Vatican denies church is shielding war criminal

September 20, 2005

United Nations Chief War Crimes prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has accused the Catholic Church in Croatia of shielding one of the most wanted war criminals of the conflict in the region.

The Vatican has denied the accusation that it is shielding the alleged war criminal, General Ante Gotovina, claiming they have sought clarification on Ms del Ponte's accusation that the General is being sheltered in a monastery in Croatia.