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The new grave measuring at least 10 by three metres was discovered at Kamenica village, near the town of Zvornik, said Murat Hurtic of Bosnia's Missing Persons Commission.

"The remains of around 10 people appeared on the surface as we removed the first layer of soil [and] at least several dozen remains" were expected to be uncovered in total, he said.

The exhumation work was expected to continue for two weeks.

Serb forces overran the then UN-protected Muslim enclave Srebrenica in the final phase of Bosnia's 1992-1995 war, summarily killing some 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Europe's single worst atrocity since World War II.

The victims were initially buried in a dozen mass graves. But after the release of satellite pictures showing large portions of freshly disturbed ground, Serbs moved them to other locations in order to cover up the crimes.

The body parts were separated during reburial using bulldozers, and forensic experts sometimes found parts of a single person buried in three different so-called secondary graves.

"It is the 10th so-called secondary grave found in Kamenica", said Amor Masovic, the head of the commission.

Soil probes showed there were at least three other graves in the village, he said, adding that they would probably be exhumed later this year.

The remains of thousands of the victims have been exhumed from about 70 mass graves around the ill-fated town, with more than 5,600 people identified by DNA analysis.

Wartime Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, indicted by a UN war crimes court for genocide and crimes against humanity for atrocities including the Srebrenica massacre, was arrested in the Serbian capital Belgrade last month after being on the run for more than decade.

Karadzic's army commander and co-accused in the genocide case, general Ratko Mladic, remains at large.

The Srebrenica massacre remains the only episode in the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s to have been ruled genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

That view was upheld by the United Nations' highest tribunal, the International Court of Justice, in February 2007.

The Bosnian war claimed up to 200,000 lives, while some 2.2 million people - approximately half of the country's population - were forced to take refuge.

- AFP

What Will Karadzic Trial Draw From Milosevic Case?

2008-08-08T13:54:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - What Will Karadzic Trial Draw From Milosevic Case?

Bosnia holds largest number of cultural festivals in Europe

2008-08-01T02:39:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Bosnia holds largest number of cultural festivals in Europe

Serb protest prompts US embassy closure

2008-07-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Serb protest prompts US embassy closure

Karadzic faces Friday deadline to file appeal

2008-07-25T09:05:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Karadzic faces Friday deadline to file appeal

Karadzic drops bushy disguise, will defend himself at tribunal

2008-07-24T02:16:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Karadzic drops bushy disguise, will defend himself at tribunal

Ratko Mladic is expected to be arrested/captured next

2008-07-22T13:49:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Ratko Mladic is expected to be arrested/captured next

Serbia announces arrest of war crimes suspect Karadzic

2008-07-22T01:14:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Serbia announces arrest of war crimes suspect Karadzic -2

Top War Crimes Fugitive Karadzic Arrested by Serbian security forces

2008-07-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Top War Crimes Fugitive Karadzic Arrested by Serbian security forces

Serbia's foreign minister calls for return of ambassadors to EU countries

2008-07-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Serbia's foreign minister calls for return of ambassadors to EU countries

Canada Congratulates Albania and Croatia as NATO Allies Sign Accession Protocols

2008-07-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Canada Congratulates Albania and Croatia as NATO Allies Sign Accession Protocols

30,000 people gathered at the Memorial Centre in Potocari

2008-07-11T04:52:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - 30,000 people gathered at the Memorial Centre in Potocari

Bosnia: Top European rights body urges arrest of Srebrenica massacre's architects

2008-07-10T09:52:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Bosnia: Top European rights body urges arrest of Srebrenica massacre's architects

Serbia Pledges To Arrest War Criminals

2008-07-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

Historija i politika teme-Balkan issues politics - Balkan politics - Serbia Pledges To Arrest War Criminals

EP's Pack: BiH needs efficient institutions to join EU

2008-07-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - EP's Pack: BiH needs efficient institutions to join EU

Africa - Zimbabwe pulls out of world Twenty20 but keeps ICC status

2008-07-04T03:09:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - Africa - Zimbabwe pulls out of world Twenty20 but keeps ICC status

UN appeals court acquits Bosnian Muslim

2008-07-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - UN appeals court acquits Bosnian Muslim

Bosnia to commemorate 13th anniversary of massacre in Srebrenica

2008-07-02T01:14:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Bosnia to commemorate 13th anniversary of massacre in Srebrenica

New UN report urges companies to boost business with world’s poor

2008-07-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - United Nations (UN) - New UN report urges companies to boost business with world’s poor

Zimbabwe should learn from Serbia

2008-06-29T14:28:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Zimbabwe should learn from Serbia

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton tie the political knot in Unity

2008-06-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - United states & Canada - Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton tie the political knot in Unity

African heads of state discuss Zimbabwe at meeting in Swaziland

2008-06-25T02:08:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - Africa - African heads of state discuss Zimbabwe at meeting in Swaziland

Serbia: War crimes court reports Belgrade to UN

2008-06-24T04:59:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Serbia: War crimes court reports Belgrade to UN

Rescuers hold out hope for ferry survivors

2008-06-23T03:42:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - Asia forum - Rescuers hold out hope for ferry survivors

UN sued over 8,000 deaths in Bosnia

2008-06-19T01:55:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - UN sued over 8,000 deaths in Bosnia

Hearings begin on whether Srebrenica victims can sue United Nations

2008-06-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Hearings begin on whether Srebrenica victims can sue United Nations

Nearly 100 Srebrenica victims exhumed in eastern Bosnia

2008-06-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Nearly 100 Srebrenica victims exhumed in eastern Bosnia

Serbia terrorist group responsible for attack on police in Mitrovica

2008-06-17T01:41:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Serbia terrorist group responsible for attack on police in Mitrovica

Bosnia-Herzegovina signs pre-membership agreement with EU

2008-06-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Bosnia-Herzegovina signs pre-membership agreement with EU

Yugoslavia breathes its last as Kosovar statehood finally becomes a reality

2008-06-14T13:50:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Yugoslavia breathes its last as Kosovar statehood finally becomes a reality

Interview: SAA will launch BiH to new stage of EU integration

2008-06-13T14:19:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Interview: SAA will launch BiH to new stage of EU integration

Serbia curries EU favour with arrest of Bosnian Serb fugitive

2008-06-12T03:13:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Serbia curries EU favour with arrest of Bosnian Serb fugitive

Bosnian Muslims welcome Zupljanin's arrest

2008-06-11T11:02:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Bosnian Muslims welcome Zupljanin's arrest

Serbia hopes to become a EU candidate before the end of the year

2008-06-11T01:15:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Serbia hopes to become a EU candidate before the end of the year

UN Tribunals Seek More Pressure On Rwanda, Serbia

2008-06-05T01:20:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - UN Tribunals Seek More Pressure On Rwanda, Serbia

UN Prosecutor Urges Serbia to Step Up Efforts to Locate War Crimes Suspect

2008-06-04T16:26:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - UN Prosecutor Urges Serbia to Step Up Efforts to Locate War Crimes Suspect

At Rome summit, Ban urges 'bold and urgent' steps to tackle global food crisis

2008-06-04T01:28:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - United Nations (UN) - At Rome summit, Ban urges ‘bold and urgent’ steps to tackle global food crisis

UN continues efforts to promote peace in Darfur and southern Sudan

2008-06-04T01:27:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - United Nations (UN) - UN continues efforts to promote peace in Darfur and southern Sudan

Clinton to say Obama has enough delegates

2008-06-03T08:29:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - United states & Canada - Clinton to say Obama has enough delegates

Debts as gets Defined

2008-06-02T05:21:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - Western and Muslim world political forum - Debts as gets Defined

Sierra Leone recognizes Kosovo

2008-06-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Sierra Leone recognizes Kosovo

European Parliament treats Kosovo as a state

2008-05-30T04:55:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - European Parliament treats Kosovo as a state

New Details Surface about Bosnian Gunman

2008-05-30T03:33:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - New Details Surface about Bosnian Gunman

Serbian Ultranationalist Facing Contempt Charges

2008-05-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Serbian Ultranationalist Facing Contempt Charges

Serbian nationalists and Milosevic allies sign agreement to govern city of Belgrade

2008-05-28T05:48:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - News headlines from Bosnia and The Balkans-Glavne vijesti sa Balkana - Serbian nationalists and Milosevic allies sign agreement to govern city of Belgrade

Armed bandits force tens of thousands of Central Africans to flee homes – UN

2008-05-26T03:10:00.000-07:00

International news, crisis political forum & Balkan cafe - Africa - Armed bandits force tens of thousands of Central Africans to flee homes – UN

Burma presents list of needs to donor nations after Cyclone Nargis

2008-05-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

Ban Ki-moon said today that he hoped a turning point had been reached in tackling Burma’s humanitarian crisis as an international conference convened to pledge funds for the 2.4 million survivors of Cyclone Nargis.

The UN Secretary-General struck an optimistic notes at the opening of a one-day, 52-nation conference, after promises by the ruling junta yesterday that foreign aid workers could at last enter the most devastated areas from which they have been banned since the cyclone struck three weeks ago.

“I hope this marks a turning point in tackling the challenges facing this country,” Mr Ban told the 500 delegates as the conference began with a minute of silence for the dead.

But he said international relief workers and medical teams from neighbouring countries must have “unhindered access to the areas hardest hit by the disaster”.

Lieutenant General Thein Sein, the Prime Minister, who had shed his military uniform for the sarong-like “longyi" and traditional jacket, said that international aid “with no strings attached" was welcome, but only civilian vessels could take part in the aid operation.

“Relief supplies can be transported by land, air or sea. But if relief supplies have to be transported by water, civilian vessels can come in through Rangoon port,” he said.

This appeared to rule out aid from the US, British and French warships which have been cruising off Burma’s coast, loaded with humanitarian supplies. Burmese state media said last week that they would not be allowed into the country, for fear of an American invasion to snatch the country’s oil supplies.

So far Burma has accepted 3,200 tons of humanitarian supplies from abroad, said Thein Sein. He presented a long list of urgent needs, including temporary shelters, rice seeds, fertiliser, fishing boats and new salt factories.

Mr Ban estimated the relief operation would last at least six months.

“There is good reason to hope that aid to the worst affected areas of Burma will increase significantly in the coming days. These needs must be funded, immediately,” he said.

Burma’s military regime was expected to call for $10.7bn in foreign funds.

Several Western diplomats stressed that their countries would only donate if Burma carries through on its promises to allow access to aid workers.

Scot Marciel, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State who is Washington’s representative, said that the United States was prepared to offer much more than the $20.5m already donated, but that the offer was on condition that international disaster experts are allowed to assess conditions in affected areas.

Bert Koenders, the Dutch minister for development cooperation, said: “The reason we came is to support Ban Ki-moon. That’s the reason why many ministers came here. We’re all very positive about what he has agreed with the government leader here, but also sceptical because you have to see the facts on the ground.”

After weeks of stubbornly refusing assistance, Burma’s ruling generals told the United Nations they were now willing to allow workers of all nationalities to go into the devastated Irrawaddy delta to assess the damage.

The ability to make such assessments will be essential in winning aid pledges from potential donors in Yangon, Burma’s largest city. And some agencies voiced concern about how the junta would implement the agreement.

Burma’s generals have a long history of making promises to top UN envoys, then breaking them when the international spotlight on their country fades.

The world body has repeatedly failed to convince the military to make democratic reforms or to release Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader and Nobel laureate whose five-year period of house arrest expires this week.

Nyan Win, spokesman for Ms Suu Kyi’s National League of Democracy, said today that there has been “no sign at all" that she would be released. He said a decision on whether to free her or continue her detention would probably come tomorrow.

Mr Ban appeared to sideline political issues, saying, “We must think about people just now, not politics.”

The UN estimates that of the total 2.4 million people affected by the storm, about 42 per cent had received some kind of emergency assistance. But of the 2 million people living in the 15 worst-affected townships, only 23 per cent had been reached.

The United Nations has launched an emergency appeal for $201m, a figure likely to increase once disaster relief experts are able to survey the Irrawaddy delta.

So far, the UN has received about $50m in contributions and about $42.5m in pledges in response to the appeal.

Aid agencies said much needs to be clarified from Mr Ban’s meeting, ranging from when aid workers’ visas will be granted to how long they will be allowed to stay in Burma and where they can work.

Official estimates put the death toll at about 78,000, with another 56,000 missing. Burma has estimated the economic damage at about US$11 billion ($7 billion).

The cyclone destroyed thousands of schools, hospitals and houses, millions of acres (hectares) of rice fields and killed vital livestock as well as fisheries. Besides reconstruction, the regime says it also wants to construct a sea wall that would protect coastal villages.

The restoration of agriculture in the Irrawaddy delta, the country’s rice bowl, is a key concern.

“Only a few weeks remain until the rice planting season begins,” Mr Ban said. “Millions of people depend on this next harvest, at a time when food prices are soaring around the world. A failure to deal with this problem today will immeasurably compound our problems tomorrow.”

Myanmar’s leader agrees to open access to foreign aid workers – Ban Ki-moon

2008-05-23T18:19:00.000-07:00

Myanmar’s leader agrees to open access to foreign aid workers – Ban Ki-moon

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Senior General Than Shwe, Head of State of Myanmar

23 May 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced that Myanmar’s Senior General Than Shwe has agreed to allow international aid workers, regardless of their nationality, into the areas worst affected by Cyclone Nargis after the two men held talks today.

Speaking to the press after the discussions, held in the country’s new capital Naypyidaw, Mr. Ban reported that he had held a “good meeting” with the Senior General.

“He has taken quite a flexible position on an issue that, until now, has been an obstacle to organizing coordinated and fully effective international aid and assistance operations,” Mr. Ban said. “He has also agreed that [the] visa issue will be speeded up.”

The Secretary-General said the Senior General had agreed that the main airport at Yangon, Myanmar’s most populous city, can be used as a logistics hub for international aid so that relief can be distributed more quickly to those in need. Aid can also be delivered to the country via civilian ships and small boats.

Mr. Ban said this commitment by Myanmar was “quite a breakthrough” and that “substantive progress was made on all critical issues at hand regarding humanitarian assistance,” according to his spokesperson.

“I hope all these agreements can produce results quickly. Implementation will be the key. Finally, we have agreed on the kind of effective coordination and consulting mechanisms we need,” he added.

The Secretary-General arrived yesterday in Myanmar, where Cyclone Nargis has left up to 2.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. The UN estimates that more than 100,000 people may have been killed since the storm struck on 2 May.

Yesterday Mr. Ban toured some of the worst affected areas in the Irrawaddy delta and spoke with families who had been forced to leave their homes.

“I am humbled – humbled by the scale of this natural disaster, the worst your country has ever experienced, and humbled by the courage and the resilience of the Myanmar people.”

I am humbled – humbled by the scale of this natural disaster, the worst your country has ever experienced, and humbled by the courage and the resilience of the Myanmar people

Mr. Ban added that he had heard many tragic stories. “At a refugee camp, villagers told me of the loss of their families, their loved ones, everything they owned. But I also saw homes – and lives – being rebuilt.”

Saying he was encouraged by his meeting with Myanmar’s leadership, the Secretary-General said: “From all I have seen, the Government, with help from the international community, have put in place a functioning relief programme. But I told them that more needs to be done. Their efforts need to be reinforced, quickly, by international experts with tested experience in handling emergencies.”

Tomorrow Mr. Ban is due to attend an inaugural relief flight from the new UN staging areas in Don Mueang, Thailand. On Sunday he will return to Myanmar’s largest city Yangon for a pledging conference to raise funds for the disaster. “Our goal will be to focus on the immediate relief efforts, and also to look at the recovery phase which will have to start in parallel,” he said. So far 45 countries and regional bodies have signed up to attend the conference and the World Bank will also be represented.

UN agencies, including the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), have been mounting a major relief effort for victims of the severe storms, bringing in shelter, tents, food and medical supplies, though they say many people have still not been reached with aid.

WFP has now distributed almost 2,500 tons of food to nearly 450,000 people and has secured the Government’s permission to purchase 20,000 tons of food, mainly rice, inside the country.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) says that 130 aid flights have arrived in Yangon so far, including 22 from the UN. OCHA is also trying to obtain more boats to reach many of the small islands scattered through the delta area.

The World Health Organization (WHO) today issued a warning that monsoon rains in Myanmar were increasing the risks of an outbreak of disease. WHO says it is working with the Government to set up a surveillance system to monitor possible outbreaks.

Meanwhile, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned that hundreds of thousands of people in the remote areas of the Irrawaddy delta still do not have sufficient food to eat.