The prosecution of the Hague tribunal submitted a proposal for Ratko Mladic to be tried in two separate proceedings, one for the Srebrenica genocide indictment and the other for the persecution of non-Serbs throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina, crimes in Sarajevo and the taking of international hostages.

In the submittal presented on Aug. 17, the prosecution requested for the current unified indictment against Mladic to be divided into two, and for two trials to be held.

In the current indictment, Mladic is charged with two counts of genocide in Srebrenica, as well as genocide against non-Serbs in eight other Bosnian municipalities, the persecution of Muslims and Croats throughout Bosnia; terrorizing the population of Sarajevo during the campaign of artillery and sniper attacks, and taking U.N. personnel hostage from 1992 to 1995.

According to the prosecution's proposal, the indictment for genocide in Srebrenica would be separated, and Mladic would be tried for it in the first process.

Prosecutor Serge Brammertz explained this proposal with the need to ensure that justice is done, considering that Mladic was arrested close to the end of the tribunal's mandate, by starting the trial as soon as possible. He believes that the separation of processes is also necessary because of the possible deterioration of Mladic's health in the future.