Former Kosovo president sentenced to 25 years for war crimes

Kosovo's former president Hashim Thaci was sentenced to 25 years by a tribunal in The Hague on Wednesday for war crimes, the court said in a long-awaited verdict likely to spark outrage in the Balkan country. The judges said Thaci, who was tried along with three other former guerrilla leaders, was guilty of illegal arrests, torture, murder and cruel treatment committed by guerrilla fighters. Read moreFormer Kosovo president Thaci pleads not guilty as war crimes trial begins In Kosovo's capital, a large crowd gathered to watch live on large screens the sentencing of a man many revere as a hero. As the decision was delivered, the crowd fell silent, with many appearing to be shocked by the decision – after weeks of preparation by his supporters for his possible acquittal. Thaci's fellow former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) figures Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi and Kadri Veseli were also found guilty and sentenced. Krasniqi received 25 years in prison, Selimi got 13 years and Veseli 18 years. All four were determined to be criminally responsible for the arbitrary detention and torture of hundreds of people and 96 murders, according to the court. But they were acquitted of crimes against...