Ratko Mladic, former Bosnian Serb general, dies in prison at age 84

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb general whose forces attacked Sarajevo and oversaw the Srebrenica massacre, has died while serving a life sentence for war crimes, according to U.N. officials. He was 84 years old. Mladic died in a U.N. prison hospital in The Hague, Netherlands. A family member, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, confirmed the reports and stated that Mladic's son, Darko Mladic, was en route to The Hague. The U.N. tribunal for war crimes in the former Yugoslavia sentenced Mladic to life in prison in 2017, marking a significant step toward justice for the victims of the conflicts. He had been in custody since 2011 after years of evading capture. Mladic was a prominent figure during the Bosnian War, which resulted in over 100,000 deaths and more than 1 million displaced individuals. He commanded his troops to engage in violent acts against Bosnian Muslims and was known for his aggressive rhetoric. Mladic was born on March 12, 1942, in Bozinovici, Bosnia, and became a commander of the Bosnian Serb army during the conflict. He led the siege of Sarajevo and was responsible for the systematic killings of non-Serb civilians. His actions during the war, including the genocide in Srebrenica, have been widely condemned. Mladic's trial was marked by his defiant behavior, and he maintained his innocence until his death. He had been in declining health prior to his passing, having suffered multiple strokes while in custody.