SARAJEVO, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Twenty five suspects detained on war crimes charges launched a hunger strike for the second time this year, the Bosnian state court said on Monday.

The suspects are demanding to be tried under the criminal code of the former Yugoslavia which was in force when the alleged offences took place.

Bosnia's code of 2003 provides for a maximum prison term of 40 years instead of 15 under the Yugoslav code.

A hunger strike by dozens of suspects almost completely stopped the work of the court's war crimes chamber in January.

Some of them complained to the constitutional court that the Bosnian criminal code violated the European Convention on Human Rights. The court dismissed their complaints in March.

"The court will act in accordance with its legal duties. The court will secure the necessary medical assistance for the detainees," the court's statement said.

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