Protests in Kosovo Over War Crimes Verdicts; One Officer Injured
Clashes erupted between police and protesters in Pristina, Kosovo, after the parliament failed to pass a bill limiting the powers of the specialized court dealing with war crimes. The protests were sparked by the recent convictions of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and other leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The protesters, including KLA veterans, demanded the passage of the bill, which aims to reduce the court's jurisdiction, set a maximum penalty of 15 years, allow sentences to be served on Kosovar soil, and enable presidential pardon. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd, injuring at least one officer and 11 civilians.5 sourcesSee all sources