Former Bosnian Serb minister pleads not guilty to war crimes charges

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2006

SARAJEVO (AFP) — A one-time minister in the government of the wanted Bosnian Serb war leader Radovan Karadzic has pleaded not guilty to charges of war crimes at the start of Bosnia's 1992-95 war.

Momcilo Mandic, justice minister in Karadzic's government, was indicted earlier this month by the war crimes chamber of the Court of Bosnia-Hercegovina for crimes against civilians and crimes against humanity.

He is accused of leading the April 1992 attack on a police training centre in Sarajevo and capturing dozens of policemen and teenage recruits there who were beaten and physically abused before being released.

The attack marked the beginning of the war, which took some 200,000 lives, and the 44-month siege of the capital by Serb forces.

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