WAR CRIMES TRIAL TO FORMER POLICE OFFICERS BEGINS

BJELOVAR, Dec 14 (Hina) - The trial of four former police officers from Bjelovar accused of murdering six prisoners of war, reservists of ex-Yugoslavia's federal army (JNA), and the severe wounding of a Serb civilian, Sava Kovac, in 1991, began at the county court in the northern Croatian town on Friday. Charged with war crimes against civilians and POWs are Luka Markesic, deputy head of operations of the Bjelovar-Bilogora County police, and Zdenko Radic, Zoran Maras, and Ivan Orlovic, former special police officers. The four have been in custody in Bjelovar since late August. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the shooting by firing squad of six JNA reservists and the wounding of Kovac, who survived the execution in a wood near Bjelovar. Kovac was the first witness at the hearing. He said he did not know the persons who took him to a police station, where he was interrogated and beaten. He added he did not know the identities of the persons who shot at the victims as they were masked. Twenty-seven witnesses should testify at the trial. (hina) ha sb