Croatia Charges Five Ex-Soldiers over Wartime Torture

Croatia on Tuesday charged five former members of the military with torturing Serb prisoners of war at the start of the conflict that led to the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

The five men -- a commander and his four subordinates -- were charged with "abusing 34 persons by inflicting major suffering and injuries", a statement by Zagreb county prosecutors said.

The crimes were committed between December 1991 and May 1992, first in a detention facility in Zagreb and later in army barracks in nearby Kerestinec, it said.

The five were detained a year ago and prosecutors demanded they remain in custody.

Local media reported earlier that members of the former Yugoslav army, Serb paramilitaries, but also civilians, including women, were tortured and killed in the Kerestinec barracks.

Croatia's proclamation of independence from Yugoslavia sparked the 1991-1995 war with rebel Serbs who opposed it.