OSIJEK: WAR CRIMES TRIAL OF MILOS LONCAR RESUMES

OSIJEK, June 12 (Hina) - The Osijek County Court on Wednesday resumed the trial of Milos Loncar, accused of having committed war crimes against civilians by ordering cannon attacks on Osijek and surrounding areas from September 1991 to May 1992. #L# A large number of civilians were killed and wounded and considerable material damage caused in the attacks. The war-time commander of the 107th Croatian Army Brigade, Miroslav Stargl, testified today. He said that Osijek was frequently shelled with cannons, despite the fact that Croatian troops were positioned outside the city and no cannon fire was returned. Around 1,000 people were killed in the shelling of Osijek, the witness said. Loncar, of the Baranja village of Jagodnjak, who has been in custody since last September, dismissed accusations of command responsibility, claiming that as a member of the so-called Territorial Defence he had been responsible for technical duties, such as the maintenance of cannons, the construction of shelters, and the unloading of shells. He expressed regret over the suffering of innocent people in Osijek, saying that in his conversations with other Jagodnjak residents he had regularly condemned the shelling of Osijek. The trial resumes with the closing arguments of the defence and prosecution. (hina) rml sb