[JURIST] An Australian court on Thursday ordered that former Serb commander Dragan Vasiljkovic [Trial Watch backgrounder] be surrendered to Croatian authorities, and if Vasiljkovic's appeal of the decision is unsuccessful, Australia will extradite him to Croatia as requested [JURIST report] last January. Vasiljkovic, arrested [JURIST report] in Australia last year, is accused of torturing and killing Croat soldiers, civilians and prisoners of war and of involvement in the forced expulsion of entire villages in Serb-held territories in southern Croatia while he commanded a Serb paramilitary unit.

If Vasiljkovic loses his appeal before the Federal Court of Australia, Justice Minister David Johnston will decide whether he should be extradited. Vasiljkovic maintains his innocence on all charges. Reuters has more.