Serbian police detain nine over alleged war crimes

The Serbian war crimes prosecutor's office says police have detained nine ex-paramilitary fighters over the killing of some 200 civilians during Kosovo's war.

Prosecutor Bruno Vekaric says altogether 26 former troops are under investigation for the atrocities in the western Kosovo village of Cuska in May 1999.

Vekaric says that "horrific crimes were committed there." He says "the only motive was looting."

Vekaric also said today that many of the suspects live outside Serbia.

The arrests are a sign of the pro-Western government's resolve to deal with the war crimes of the Balkan wars as it seeks European Union membership.

The war in Kosovo ended after NATO bombed Serbia for 78 days in 1999. Kosovo declared independence in 2008.