A US reporter won a landmark legal battle against being forced to testify at the Hague war crimes tribunal today after he convinced appeals court judges it could jeopardise journalists' safety and independence.
The tribunal's appeals court set aside a subpoena compelling former Washington Postreporter Mr Jonathan Randal to give evidence at ex-Bosnian Serb Deputy Prime Minister Radoslav Brdjanin's trial, after a lower court ordered him to testify.
Mr Randal had refused to testify in the case, his lawyers arguing it would endanger war correspondents and hamper their ability to cover the fighting.
He was not in court for the appeal ruling, but his lawyer described it as historic. "The appeals court today has shown a remarkable understanding of the needs of journalists which many courts don't," British lawyer Geoffrey Robertson said.
Brdjanin was charged along with General Momir Talic with playing a pivotal role in deporting, torturing and murdering Croats and Muslims during the 1992-95 Bosnian war.
Mr Randal interviewed Brdjanin during the war and quoted him as saying he wanted to get rid of the non-Serb population in Banja Luka in an article in the Washington Post in February 1993.