Belgrade - Yugoslavia yesterday abolished the death penalty, when the lower house of parliament adopted a revised penal code that had last been overhauled in 1977, Tanjug news agency reported.
The death penalty will be replaced by a 40-year prison term in the new 600-article penal code.
The code also "reinforces and enlarges" the rights of suspects in defending themselves, the agency said.
Furthermore, the code foresees the possibility that Yugoslav nationals could be transferred to be judged before international tribunals, if an accord has been signed recognising such a tribunal, Tanjug added.