The trial of a former Bosnian Serb general accused of overseeing the killing, maiming and terrorising of civilians during the 44-month siege of Sarajevo opens today.
Mr Stanislav Galic, accused of crimes against humanity while in charge of Serb attacks against the Bosnian capital during the 1992-95 Bosnian war, is the first tribunal suspect to be tried for alleged atrocities by Bosnian Serb forces during the siege.
Mr Galic pleaded not guilty to the charges at the tribunal within days of his arrest and transfer to The Hague by NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) troops in December 1999. He headed the Bosnian Serbs' Sarajevo Romanija Corps between 1992 and 1994.
The 18,000-strong force, which commanded the steep mountains surrounding the city, killed and wounded thousands of civilians queuing for bread, collecting water or shopping in markets during a campaign of shelling and sniping, prosecutors said.
The siege of Sarajevo claimed 10,500 lives, mostly Muslims, including almost 1,800 children. Some 50,000 people were injured during the siege, which was punctuated by atrocities, including mortar attacks on a market and a football game.
Mr Galic faces four counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, and three counts of violations of the laws and customs of war, including attacks on civilians. The trial was due to begin at 1.15 p.m Irish time.
Galic's former subordinate, Mr Dragomir Milosevic, who remains at large, has also been charged with crimes against humanity during the siege. Mr Milosevic is not related to former Yugoslav president and war crimes detainee Mr Slobodan Milosevic.