Bangladesh to announce war probe

Bangladesh is set to announce a probe to investigate and prosecute alleged war crimes during the country's war of independence nearly 40 years ago.The government says those accused of collaborating with the Pakistani army in the killing and rape of thousands of civilians will be put on trial.The party which fought for independence in 1971, the Awami League, has been returned to power with a majority.The probe is opposed by one of the main opposition parties, Jamaat-e-Islami.It leaders are among those accused for alleged war crimes.The Bangladesh government says that the setting up of the prosecution team is the start of the process which will eventually lead to the trial of hundreds of people for war crimes, crimes against humanity and maybe even genocide.It says that these were committed in 1971 by the Pakistan army, and their locally raised militia, when they embarked on a campaign to hold on to what was then the country's eastern province by terrorising its civilian population.