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CNN Live At Daybreak

Hague's Verdict on General Radislav Krstic Expected This Hour

Aired August 02, 2001 - 08:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: The War Crimes Tribunal at The Hague hands down its verdict within the hour. General Radislav Krstic, along with Commander Ratko Mladic, have been charged in the massacre at Srebrenica. You remember that, perhaps, in 1995, the bloodiest atrocity in Europe since World War II.

CNN's chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour joins us now from London -- Christiane.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Colleen, this is an extremely importantly awaited verdict for the tribunal and really for all those who've been following the course of justice following the Bosnian War. It is the first time, perhaps, that a verdict of genocide could be handed down. Others have been accused of genocide, but they have been acquitted.

If this Radislav Krstic is found guilty of the crime of genocide, it would be the first time for this tribunal. And according to the tribunal spokesman, it would then set the record straight that genocide was, in fact, committed on the territory of Bosnia. If he is convicted, he could face life imprisonment. That is the harshest sentence that the tribunal can hand down. No one yet has had that sentence handed down. So this an extremely important moment for the tribunal. In addition, Radislav Krstic is the most senior Bosnian Serb to come to trial so far.

Now we spoke a little earlier. You mentioned that Krstic, along with the army commander, the notorious fugitive still at large, Ratko Mladic, was indicted on charges of genocide and other crimes for the catastrophe of Srebrenica. Shortly after the town fell in 1995, I tracked down one of the survivors and spoke to him about what had happened. He, at that time, had no knowledge of the name of Radislav Krstic, but he did mention Ratko Mladic and did place him along the line as he watched and as he survived these mass executions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMANPOUR (voice-over): When the Bosnian Serbs seized Srebrenica in July, there commander, General Ratko Mladic, came in with a video crew to film him, reassuring Muslim civilians. Don't panic, let the small children and women part, he said. Don't be afraid, no one will do you any harm. The crowd says thank you.

Hurim Sulich (ph) now lives in Bosnian government held territory with his family. That day, they were all in Srebrenica. Hurim tells us what happened when Mladic's camera stopped rolling. His wife Rasa was bussed out with the rest of the women and children, but Hurim and the men were not allowed to leave. He places Mladic at several points along his story. The first time,...

HURIM SULICH (through translator): He said hello, neighbors. He asked whether we knew who he was and he said if you don't know, I'm Ratko Mladic, now you have the chance to see me.

AMANPOUR: He says Mladic promised they would be exchanged for Serb prisoners. Instead, they began a journey that took them to makeshift detention centers. Here, he says, killings and beatings began.

SULICH (through translator): A Serb soldier hit a man on the head with an iron bar and he fell down and another soldier hit him with an ax.

AMANPOUR: Hurim says they were ordered not to look around. Serb soldiers fired over their heads and threatened to kill them all. They picked out their victims by flashlight, took groups of 10 outside, the men never came back. He says General Mladic appeared again.

SULICH (through translator): We asked him why are you killing people here? Why don't you take us somewhere? And he answered, we are going for the prisoner exchange now.

AMANPOUR: Then, they had to hand over their money and documents.

SULICH (through translator): Mladic said not to worry, just wait for the vehicles. You are going to see your families. Outside, I saw Mladic giving orders, but I couldn't hear what.

AMANPOUR: Next, they were herded onto trucks and on their way along a dirt track. Hurim says he saw bodies.

SULICH (through translator): We stopped there. One Serb pushed me and said get out. He ordered me to stand near the dead people, so I did. Others stood behind me in rows. The Serbs said don't look around. Then, I heard a lot of shooting and bodies fell on top of me. They were the people standing behind me. I fell too.

AMANPOUR: Hurim wasn't hit. He kept quiet.

SULICH (through translator): If anyone showed signs of life or if they heard anyone moan, they said tell us where you are? Where are you? Then, they killed him.

AMANPOUR: Hurim says truckloads of men were killed. He could see by the light of the moon and the lights on big digging machines. Here, he says, he saw Mladic one last time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

AMANPOUR: Now Radislav Krstic was accused, along with General Mladic, of being responsible for those massacres in Srebrenica. His verdict is awaited now in the next five minutes and we'll bring you that news as soon as it happens. But Srebrenica resonates long and hard with the West and it was the defining moment of the -- in the Bosnian War, which caused the West to enter that war and end it -- Colleen.

MCEDWARDS: All right. CNN's Christiane Amanpour, thanks. You mentioned that Krstic is indeed a senior general, but remind us of which other players are still out there still being sought?

AMANPOUR: Well, Ratko Mladic for one. He was the army commander. His name is very familiar to all of those who followed the Bosnian War and he is being demanded to be brought to The Hague by the United States, by all the other countries that have signed up to the International War Crimes Tribunal. In addition, Radovan Karadzic, the notorious leader -- political leader of the Bosnian Serbs during the war, and these two have been in hiding since the war ended. They are indicted twice by the tribunal for their alleged roles, not only in the massacre at Srebrenica, but in the siege, the shelling, the killing of civilians all over Bosnia during that war.

MCEDWARDS: Christiane, thanks very much.

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