Hunger strike halts Bosnian war crimes court

SARAJEVO, Jan 11 (Reuters) Proceedings at the Bosnian war crimes court came to a halt this week when 16 suspects started a hunger strike demanding to be tried under former Yugoslavia's more lenient criminal code.

Four suspects refused to appear in court on Tuesday and another yesterday. They said they did not want to be tried under Bosnia's 2003 code, which provided for a maximum prison term of 40 years instead of 15 under the old one, which was in force when the alleged offences took place.

The hunger strike was started on Monday by 16 suspects who are being tried or are awaiting trial, and six already sentenced to jail terms of between five and 40 years for crimes in the 1992-95 war who are seeking a re-trial.

Bosnian radio reported that another suspect held at the court's detention unit joined the hunger strike yesterday but court spokesman Manuela Hodzic could not confirm this.

The court was set up last year to try lower- and mid-level cases. It has so far sentenced eight people while 22 are being tried or are awaiting trial.

The UN war crimes tribunal has so far transferred seven suspects to the Bosnian court as part of its strategy to focus on top remaining suspects from the Balkan wars before it closes in 2010.

Reuters DKS VP0437