Croatian Leader Gives Medal To Indicted War-Crimes Suspect

A Bosnian Croat general indicted as a war-crimes suspect was awarded a medal for his part in the Bosnian war.

Gen. Tihomir Blaskic was one of about 50 Bosnian Croats commended by President Franjo Tudjman for their role in summer 1995 offensives to recapture Serb-held southern Croatia and large chunks of western Bosnia, said a spokesman for the Bosnian Croat militia.

Blaskic is awaiting trial following his indictment in connection with massacres of Muslims by Croat troops under his command in central Bosnia. His wife accepted the medal on his behalf at a ceremony Saturday.

Under strong U.S. pressure and saying he wanted to prove his innocence, Blaskic surrendered to the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, in the spring.