Kosovo's former president convicted

Hashim Thaçi, 58, was sentenced to 25 years in prison by The Hague tribunal for war crimes committed as a senior commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army during the country's 1998-99 war for independence from Serbia.

Charges included murder and torture

The European-backed Kosovo Specialist Chambers convicted Thaçi and three other former KLA commanders of 96 murders, torture, cruel treatment and arbitrary detention of political opponents and civilians.

Scale of abuse was systematic

Beyond the murders, Thaçi was convicted for illegal detention of 385 people, torture of 303 people and cruel treatment of about 50. The judge said victims were arrested based on unverified rumours and called spies or collaborators.

“The so-called intelligence on which many of these victims were arrested, detained and killed was little more than unverified rumours.”

Judge: he encouraged the crimes

Presiding judge Charles Smith ruled that Thaçi had actively participated in and encouraged crimes, using his position, leadership and authority to do so. The court dismissed six crimes against humanity charges.

“The scale and nature of the crimes committed were very serious.”

Other commanders received lighter sentences

Prosecutors had sought 45 years for Thaçi. His three co-defendants received different sentences: Jakup Krasniqi got 25 years, Kadri Veseli 18 years and Rexhep Selimi 13 years. All had denied the charges.

Kosovo rejects the verdict

Thousands in Pristina watched the verdict on a large screen and were stunned. Kosovo's foreign minister called it a terrible judgment, and Thaçi's party claimed the charges were fabricated and based on Serbian propaganda.

“A terrible judgment for Kosovo, for our liberation war.”

From war hero to defendant

Known as Commander Snake during the war, Thaçi charmed western diplomats including US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright at peace negotiations. He later became president but resigned to face charges, claiming the KLA was not strictly centralised.

The 1998-99 war's toll

The Kosovo war killed about 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians. A 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbian forces ended the fighting. About 1 million ethnic Albanian Kosovars were driven from their homes.

Thaçi can still appeal

Thaçi also faces separate charges of intimidating witnesses, with judgment still pending. He has pleaded not guilty and can appeal the 25-year conviction.