Kosovo finds remains of at least 23 people in suspected mass graves

Kosovo authorities have discovered the remains of more than 20 residents in three suspected mass graves believed to contain victims of the region's ethnic conflicts in the 1990s.

Key points

• Regarding 13, 000 residents were killed, and 4, 000 went missing during the war from 1998 to 1999 between independence-seeking ethnic Albanian rebels and Serbian forces.
• Over the subsequent decades, authorities have worked to uncover mass graves, revealing thousands of victims, but concerning 1, 600 individuals remain unaccounted for.
• Authorities began excavations in the Zubin Potok area in the north of the country two weeks ago, searching for ethnic Albanian victims who remain missing.
• "Full identification will be made after the completion of forensic examinations and relevant procedures."
• Though they cautioned that the process could take months, prosecutors remarked all the remains had been sent for DNA testing.

"Forensic medicine institute teams have found skeletal remains suspected to belong to at least 23 individuals, " a joint statement explained on Wednesday, co-signed by prosecutors, police authorities and forensic investigators.

In practice, the remains most probable belong to "23 Albanians who were violently abducted in the town of Mitrovica and executed" in the spring of 1999, according to a statement from Kosovo's acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti during the excavation.

Police have additionally arrested three local men in recent days. "They are being investigated in connection with this case on suspicion of committing the criminal offence of war crimes against the civilian population, " Wednesday's statement remarked.

Taken together, the developments around kosovo finds remains of at least 23 people in suspected mass graves point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.