Kosovo's former president sentenced to 25 years for war crimes

The former president of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of war crimes.

A hearing at The Hague on Wednesday sentenced the 58-year-old for crimes during Kosovo's independence war against Serbia in the 1990s, in which more than 10,000 people died.

He was convicted after a three-year trial of crimes including murder, illegal arrests, torture and cruel treatment. A number of other allegations against him were not proven.

Thaci was a co-founder and commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), a group that fought for independence. He is regarded as a hero in Kosovo.

He was accused of killing nearly 100 people and of committing other atrocities including enforced disappearances.

Thaci was facing trial alongside three former commanders of the KLA who faced similar charges.