Thousands in Kosovo march against war crimes trials on 18th anniversary of independence declaration

Kosovo has marked the 18th anniversary of its declaration of independence from Serbia with a march in the capital, Pristina. Thousands turned out to support ex-leaders facing trial on war crimes charges at a court in the Netherlands. The charges stem from the 1998-1999 separatist war from Serbia. Many protesters wore red and black Albanian flags. They voiced their opposition to the proceedings in The Hague against former president and rebel leader Hashim Thaci and three others. The war started in 1998 when the rebel Kosovo Liberation Army launched its struggle for independence and Serbia responded with a brutal crackdown.