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Former Serbian Police Jailed Over Croatia Crimes


Serbia's war crimes court has convicted four former police officers of crimes committed against civilians during the 1991-95 war in Croatia and sentenced them to up to 20 years in prison.

The four men, all Serbian nationals, were convicted on charges of killing at least six Croatian civilians in October 1991 in Beli Manastir in eastern Croatia.

Three of the men got sentences of between 18 months and 10 years, while a fourth police officer got 20 years.

Prosecutors said they will appeal the three lowest sentences.

Croatia's 1991 declaration of independence sparked a four-year war with Belgrade-backed rebel Serbs.

An estimated 20,000 people died in the conflict.

The Beli Manastir case was referred to the Serbian courts in 2008 as part of a deal between Zagreb and Belgrade concerning the prosecution of war crimes.

Based on reporting by AFP and Beta news agency

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