The International War Crimes Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the Hague sentenced former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic to life in prison, for his role in the brutal civil war.

Karadzic was initially sentenced to 40 years in prison, and on appeal from prosecutors, a life sentence was declared.

Applause welcomed the sentence which guarantees that the 73 year old will never be released from prison. Karadzic was found guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity and violation of the rules and customs of war.

His appeal, which was also aimed at the lenght of the sentence, was overruled. The judge found that Karadzic is guilty of a criminal enterprise whose goal was to remove Bosniaks and Croats from the majority Serb parts of Bosnia, which are now constituted as the Republic of Srpska.