Former Serbian PM says CIA agents helped search for war crimes suspect News
Former Serbian PM says CIA agents helped search for war crimes suspect

[JURIST] Former Serbian prime minister Zoran Zivkovic [2003 BBC profile] said Friday that in 2003 CIA agents aided Serbian police in dozens of unsuccessful attempts to capture former commander General Ratko Mladic [BBC profile]. Mladic is accused of atrocities and genocide during the 1992-95 Bosnian war, and Serbia has been accused by the international community of harboring the former wartime commander. Zivkovic alleges that he made an agreement with the US government to coordinate efforts for at least six months and investigate all tips and reports related to Mladic's whereabouts. Zivkovic's successor, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica [official profile], has not continued the cooperation. Miladic’s whereabouts are still unknown and have become a central issue in Serbia’s efforts to gain membership into the European Union. The EU has made Mladic's extradition to face charges of war crimes [JURIST Hot Topic] before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugolsavia a key condition for Serbia's membership. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.