'GOSPIC GROUP' TRIAL: WITNESSES TESTIFY ABOUT CIVILIAN PRISONERS AT PERUSIC BARRACKS

RIJEKA, March 27 (Hina) - Three Croatian soldiers on Thursday testified about civilian prisoners at a barracks in Perusic, central Croatia, in the trial of the so-called "Gospic Group", charged with war crimes against civilians in the Gospic area in 1991. #L# The commander of the communications centre at the Perusic barracks in 1991, Borislav Vukelic, told the trial chamber, which is presided by judge Ika Saric, he heard that some civilians had been brought to the barracks, but that he did not see them. It was said those people were brought by masked persons one night and that they were later exchanged, the witness said. He said he did not know if the prisoners were released. The court today also heard the testimonies of brothers Milan and Ivan Culumovic. Lieutenant Milan Culumovic, a former captain first class, said he had seen civilians closed in a room with barred doors, but did not know how many of them were there or how many women were among them. Several days later he heard the civilians were executed at Lipova Glavica, but he did not know who killed them. His brother Ivan, a former deputy commander for logistics, said he knew that civilians had been taken to the barracks but denied having seen them. When he was read out his testimony given during investigative proceedings, when he said that he saw the civilians, Culumovic said he did not know why he had given that statement. He said that he heard that the civilians had been released because they did not want to be exchanged. The trial resumes tomorrow. (hina) rml