Dutch recall Suriname ambassador after amnesty

A Foreign Ministry spokesman says the Netherlands is recalling its ambassador to Suriname after the former Dutch colony approved an amnesty law pardoning President Desi Bouterse for crimes committed under his earlier military dictatorship.

Spokesman Job Frieszo says Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal has summoned ambassador Aart Jacobi back to The Hague for consultations.

The amnesty ended a long-running trial for Bouterse and 24 associates on charges of abducting and murdering 15 prominent political opponents in December 1982.

Frieszo told The Associated Press on Thursday that Rosenthal called the decision "a slap in the face" for relatives of the slayings.

The Netherlands also is barring all suspects in the killings from entering the country.

AP