War crime trials hope

International lawyers have begun work on helping their Yugoslavian counterparts run their own war crimes trials.The London-based International Bar Association and local organisations lead the project with help from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).The first of a three-part training programme for 30 Yugoslavian lawyers - judges, prosecutors and defence advocates - took place last week.

The sessions will continue until November, ending just after Slobodan Milosevic's next court appearance before the ICTY in The Hague.

The project is funded by the Swedish government.IBA executive director Mark Ellis said: 'Equipping the Yugoslavs to conduct these trials locally is a natural step in bringing suspected war criminals to justice, and a logical extension of the ICTY's remit.' This was important as the ICTY will not try all war crimes suspects, he said.However, it was not possible to say when - or indeed if - trials would begin.

'They still need a good deal of education and training,' Mr Ellis said.

'And they need to come to terms with whether or not they are capable as a country of undertaking domestic war crimes trials.'One of the trainers, Rodney Dixon, an English-qualified barrister who has worked at the ICTY, said there was a 'strong likelihood' of trials taking place.

'There was a recognition that it is important they show a commitment to prosecuting the crimes committed during the war,' he said.Mr Ellis added: 'I think there is a good deal of political will.

The group would not have met if there was not.

We are certainly seeing a turn in favour of wrestling with these types of issues.'Neil Rose