U.N. Prosecutor Accuses Vatican of Hindering Hunt for Alleged War Criminal

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http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBZMEO4UDE.html

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - The chief prosecutor of the U.N. war crimes tribunal has accused the Vatican of hindering the hunt for a fugitive Croatian general.

Prosecutor Carla del Ponte's spokeswoman said Gen. Ante Gotovina was believed to be receiving support from a network of Catholic monasteries in Croatia.

If church leaders "would give orders not to harbor war crimes suspects, if they would assist justice, fugitives wouldn't find protection in monasteries," Del Ponte's spokeswoman Florence Hartmann said.

The Vatican press office said it had no comment.