Newsline 22 December 2009: Serbia formally applied to join the European Union today, a leaked UN report says Guinea's military leader is criminally responsible for the stadium massacre of protestors last September, and Berlin’s Muslims have their own take on the Christmas festivities.
Serbia applies to join European Union
Serbia submitted its formal application to join the EU today. But there are still a number of hurdles on Serbia's road to Brussels. Various EU member states, including the Netherlands, feel Belgrade needs to do more to meet the application criteria. One of these criteria is the capture of two war fugitives, including former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic.
UN: Guinea’s military leader Camarra should face war crime charges
A leaked UN report says Guinea's military leader should be charged with war crimes following a massacre of opposition protestors last September. Captain Moussa Dadis Camarra, bears “direct criminal responsibility” for the deaths of more than 150 people who were shot at a rally in a stadium in the capital Conakry, according to the report.
Captain Camarra, who seized power this time last year and promises elections in 2010, is currently in Morocco after he was shot in an apparent assassination attempt on December 3.
Berlin’s Muslims join in with Christmas
Christmas may be a Christian festival, but not all of those who celebrate it are church-going believers. In the West it's as much about family get-togethers, presents and blowout dinners as the birth of Jesus Christ.
And many Muslims living in Christian countries also take part in some aspects of the Christmas festivities. In Germany for instance, 80 percent of the population identify themselves as Christians, but the country's also home to over 3 million Muslims.
Cinnamon Nippard reports from Berlin about the local Muslims negotiate the festive season.
Photo: Serbian President Boris Tadić shakes hands with EU Commissioner Olli Rehn (ANP)
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