Croatian pleads not guilty to war crimes against Serbs

CROATIAN war crimes suspect Ante Gotovina pleaded not guilty yesterday to seven counts of murder, persecution and expulsion of Serbs during the critical final months of the Croatian War in 1995.

One by one, Gotovina replied, "your honour, not guilty," to the list of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including the killing of 150 Serbs during fighting to retake the Krajina, or eastern frontier region of Croatia seized by rebel Serbs at the start of the 1991-1995 war.

Gotovina, aged 50, listened intently as Judge Carmel Agius read him his rights and showed occasional impatience as the court clerk read the lengthy indictment that took more than an hour.