(ANSA-AFP) - THE HAGUE, 28 SET - A former separatist
commander became the first person to appear before an
international court probing Kosovo's 1990s independence war on
Monday, facing charges including murder and torture. Salih
Mustafa, 48, a senior member of the ethnic Albanian Kosovo
Liberation Army (KLA) during the 1998-9 conflict, was arrested
last week and transferred to the Kosovo Specialist Chambers
based in The Hague. Mustafa is charged with the arbitrary
detention, cruel treatment and torture of at least six civilians
at a detention compound in Zllash, Kosovo in April 1999, and the
murder of one prisoner. The court was set up in 2015 to probe
alleged atrocities by the KLA, whose guerrillas fought for the
independence of Kosovo from Serbia. Removing a mask that he was
required to wear because of coronavirus measures, Mustafa spoke
to confirm his personal details including that he is now an
adviser in the Kosovo defence ministry. Asked by judge Nicolas
Guillou if he wanted to plead guilty or not guilty during his
first appearance before the court, Mustafa replied: "I won't
enter a plea today, I will consult my lawyer." (ANSA-AFP).
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