EU-troepen doden vrouw van Bosnische oorlogsverdachte in vuurgevecht (en)

The wife of Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect Dragomir Abazovic was shot to death in a gun battle as EU troops stormed the couple's house in Bosnia on Thursday (5 January).

Her husband, wanted for war crimes during the 1992-95 Balkan war, and his 12 year-old son were badly injured when the soldiers stormed the house - the raid was carried out by European Union peacekeeping troops (EUfor) in Mr Abazovic's home village Kozoci, some 60 km east of Sarajevo.

A spokesperson for the EUfor troops in the vicinity confirmed on Thursday that the shooting incident had taken place.

"EUfor troops fired upon them and they returned fire. During the exchange two people in the house were injured. The suspect, unable to escape, subsequently injured himself," EUfor spokesman Jem Thomas told newswires.

The wounded woman, Rada Abazovic, reportedly succumbed to her injuries at the hospital, due to severe loss of blood following internal injuries. The son is still in intensive care.

Bosnia wants investigation

The Bosnian Serb President Dragan Cavic condemned the EU operation immediately after receiving news of the deceased woman, and called upon EUfor to conduct an investigation to clarify the circumstances around the lethal shootout in Kozoci.

"This is EUfor's most severe degradation and a complete destruction of confidence in its force," Mr Cavic said according to Reuters.

Mr Cavic argued that the EU operation had been a mere manifestation of force, and that the arrest could have been carried out by national law enforcement agencies.

"No matter what mandate EUfor was given, "no one has the right to take an innocent human life by force", he added.

The 6,500-strong EUfor force took over from NATO peacekeeping troops in 2004, and is involved both in the search for fugitive war criminals and in combating organized crime throughout Bosnia.