'Iron lady' of Bosnia admits to war crimes

Biljana Plavsic, the former Bosnian Serb president once known as the "Iron Lady" of the Balkans, has admitted to war crimes in a surprise change of heart at the United Nations tribunal in The Hague.

Ms Plavsic, one of the most high-profile defendants at the war crimes court, had earlier pleaded not guilty to eight charges, including genocide.

Seven of those were dropped yesterday when Ms Plavsic, aged 72, accepted one count of crimes against humanity.

The decision adds another scalp to those already obtained by the prosecutor as Ms Plavsic becomes the first well-known leader to plead guilty. Her admission of guilt, albeit on just one charge, also avoids the need for a lengthy and expensive hearing.

During the Bosnian war, Ms Plavsic, a former biology professor, was deputy to Radovan Karadzic, the Bosnian Serb leader and one of the tribunal's most wanted men. She later took over from Mr Karadzic and was indicted on charges relating to ethnic cleansing against Muslims and Croats around Zvornik, Foca and Sanski Most between 1991 and 1992.

Ms Plavsic, who surrendered voluntarily to the tribunal, changed her plea via a video link from the Balkans, where she was given permission to remain until sentencing.

However, speculation that she has agreed to testify against Slobodan Milosevic, the former Yugoslav president, as part of a plea bargain were denied by her lawyers.

The chief prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, has made little secret of her hopes that Ms Plavsicwill testify against Mr Milosevic, who faces 61 war crimes charges including genocide.

- INDEPENDENT