ICTY: FURUNDZIJA CONSIDERS HIMSELF NOT GUILTY

( Editorial: --> 9717 ) THE HAGUE, Dec 19 (Hina) - Anto Furundzija, who was arrested and turned over to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague Thursday, told the ICTY trial chamber on Friday he understood his indictment but did not consider himself guilty of the three charges the tribunal accused him of. Furundzija was charged with "serious violation of Geneva conventions - torture and inhumane behaviour, the violation of the law and customs of war - and violation of personal dignity, including rape", committed in the Lasva Valley in 1993. The day the trial is to begin has not been disclosed. The indictment against Furundzija was made on November 2, 1995, and was confirmed on November 10, 1995. It was kept sealed until December 19, 1997. After today's reading, part of the indictment referring to Furundzija has become public. (hina) ha mm 191923 MET dec 97