Post by radovic on Jul 4, 2008 9:08:43 GMT -5
Charges altered in Albanian terror plot
4 July 2008 | 13:36 | Source: Beta
PODGORICA -- Terrorism charges have been dropped against 5 of a total 18 suspects on trial for criminal association against Montenegro’s constitutional order.
Montenegrin Organized Crime Special Prosecutor Stojanka Radoviæ reduced the charges against the five suspects from terrorism to illegal possession of weapons and explosive devices.
According to the altered indictment, the other 13 group members arrested in September 2006 in the Montenegrin police’s “Eagle’s Flight” operation are accused of “associated anti-constitutional activities against Montenegrin security.”
Radoviæ will make her closing statement at the Podgorica Supreme Court on July 8 in a trial that has attracted significant media interest in Montenegro and abroad, especially in the U.S., given that a number of the members of the group are U.S. nationals.
Two of the accused, Vaselj Dedvukaj and Doda Lucaj, have U.S. citizenship and are members of an Albanian organization in Detroit that helped fund the Kosovo Liberation Army.
All of the accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges thus far.
On the night of September 9-10, 2006, Montenegrin police arrested a group of Albanians suspected of preparing a terrorist attack with the aim of destabilizing Montenegro, and exploiting the aftermath to create an autonomous enclave in the region, which is home to a majority-Albanian population.
According to the indictment, police found a large supply of weapons, ammunition, and explosives that the suspects had hidden in caves near Tuzi and Melisija.
In one cave, police found a machine gun, five rocket launchers, five anti-tank mines, and 65 hand grenades, while more weapons were also found stashed in private homes.
The indictment goes on to say that the members of the group had political and battle strategies, and were receiving assistance in planning from members of the former Kosovo Liberation Army.
A number of Albanian national organizations have held protests against the trial on several occasions.
The U.S. embassy in Montenegro has also shown interest in the trial, while Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Ðukanoviæ and a group of American congressmen have also exchanged correspondence concerning the course of the trial.
4 July 2008 | 13:36 | Source: Beta
PODGORICA -- Terrorism charges have been dropped against 5 of a total 18 suspects on trial for criminal association against Montenegro’s constitutional order.
Montenegrin Organized Crime Special Prosecutor Stojanka Radoviæ reduced the charges against the five suspects from terrorism to illegal possession of weapons and explosive devices.
According to the altered indictment, the other 13 group members arrested in September 2006 in the Montenegrin police’s “Eagle’s Flight” operation are accused of “associated anti-constitutional activities against Montenegrin security.”
Radoviæ will make her closing statement at the Podgorica Supreme Court on July 8 in a trial that has attracted significant media interest in Montenegro and abroad, especially in the U.S., given that a number of the members of the group are U.S. nationals.
Two of the accused, Vaselj Dedvukaj and Doda Lucaj, have U.S. citizenship and are members of an Albanian organization in Detroit that helped fund the Kosovo Liberation Army.
All of the accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges thus far.
On the night of September 9-10, 2006, Montenegrin police arrested a group of Albanians suspected of preparing a terrorist attack with the aim of destabilizing Montenegro, and exploiting the aftermath to create an autonomous enclave in the region, which is home to a majority-Albanian population.
According to the indictment, police found a large supply of weapons, ammunition, and explosives that the suspects had hidden in caves near Tuzi and Melisija.
In one cave, police found a machine gun, five rocket launchers, five anti-tank mines, and 65 hand grenades, while more weapons were also found stashed in private homes.
The indictment goes on to say that the members of the group had political and battle strategies, and were receiving assistance in planning from members of the former Kosovo Liberation Army.
A number of Albanian national organizations have held protests against the trial on several occasions.
The U.S. embassy in Montenegro has also shown interest in the trial, while Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Ðukanoviæ and a group of American congressmen have also exchanged correspondence concerning the course of the trial.