25 Years After Independence War, Croatia Marks Day with Tolerance Message

On August 4, 1995, Zagreb launched Operation Storm, recapturing the rebel-held lands in an 84-hour offensive.

The assault effectively ended the war that claimed some 20,000 lives.

Yet hundreds of mostly elderly Serb civilians were killed in the aftermath, while more than 200,000 others fled to Serbia and Bosnia as their property was looted, seized or burned down.

Around half have since returned.

In another highly symbolic move, Croatia's Defense Minister Tomo Medved agreed to attend a commemoration later this month in a village where six Serb civilians were killed by Croatian forces after the operation.

(Writers & Editors: STR-LJV, SSM, RL, Agence France-Presse) 

Source: http://u.afp.com/3BsL