NATO Forces Arrest 2 Suspected Balkan War Criminals

BRUSSELS — Troops from the NATO-led force in Bosnia-Herzegovina arrested two Bosnian Croats indicted for atrocities by the Balkan war crimes tribunal, NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana announced today.

The suspects were identified as Vlatko Kupreskic and Anco Frundzija. Kupreskic is accused in connection with Croatian massacres of Muslims near the central Bosnian town of Vitez in 1993-94.

Details of the operation were still coming into North Atlantic Treaty Organization headquarters in Brussels, but officials said that during the operation, Kupreskic opened fire on NATO troops, who returned fire. He suffered multiple wounds. No NATO forces were injured.

It was not revealed where the men were apprehended. The international tribunal is based in The Hague.