Former Bosnian army commander detained on suspicion of war crimes

Atif Dudakovic was detained along with 12 other people

The arrest of Atif Dudakovic has divided opinion. (Reuters)

A former Bosnian army commander was detained by police on suspicion of war crimes against Serb and Bosnian civilians during the war which lasted from 1992 to 1995.

Atif Dudakovic was held, along with 12 other people including other commanders and members of the wartime Bosnian Army's 5th Corps, following dawn raids across the country.

They are accused of atrocities against hundreds of Serbs in northwestern Bosnia, according to the Bosnian prosecutor’s office.

All 12 were detained.

Mr Dudakovic, 64, was a highly respected and popular army commander who was in charge of the northwestern Bihac area that was under Serb siege – so his arrest is likely to prove controversial.

Milorad Kojic, who heads a group investigating wartime crimes against Serbs, said they have submitted more than 8,000 pages of evidence against Mr Dudakovic and others.

It includes video footage that is allegedly incriminating, in a case which involves 256 victims between the ages of nine and 99, Mr Kojic said.

The arrest has highlighted the ethnic divisions in the country, which is home to a Serb entity and a Muslim-Croat one.

Although a peace agreement was signed in the country in 1995, tensions between groups still exist.

The reaction to Mr Dudakovic’s arrest has highlighted the divide, with Muslim citizens criticising the move and Serbs saying it is welcome, although late.

"We are shocked," said Dzevad Malkoc, the official who deals with war veterans in the Bihac area. "This is a blow to the state, to all patriots who defended this state."

Bakir Izetbegovic, the Muslim head of the country's three-member Bosnian Presidency, said the arrests Friday were an "unnecessary humiliation" because the suspects have been cooperating with the investigation.

He warned officials against against attempts to create "a false ethnic balance" in prosecuting war crimes.

Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik said the "relatives of the victims have been waiting for justice for 20 years."

More than 100,000 people were killed during the war which started when Bosnia declared independence from Yugoslavia.

Bosnia's Serbs rebelled, taking control of more than half of the country seeking to merge with neighbouring Serbia.

Millions were left homeless amid the conflict.