WAR-CRIMES CASE AGAINST SERB EXTREMISTS OPENS IN SIBENIK

SIBENIK, Feb 28 (Hina) - The Sibenik County Court today opened a case against a group of Serb extremists accused of war crimes against civilians in the Sibenik area. The defendants, tried in absentia, are Goran Hadzic, Dorde Bjegovic, Mile Novakovic and Kosta Novakovic. They are charged with ordering units under their command to fire "oganj" and "orkan" missiles at Sibenik and the surrounding villages of Pirovac, Zaton, Vodice, Srim, Skradin, Lozovac and Bilice, which killed many civilians and damaged civilian and humanitarian facilities, as well as places of worship. In about fourty attacks on the Sibenik area, ten civilians and four firemen were killed, dozens of people were wounded and a great material damage was caused. The defendants either used to hold or are still holding, high positions in the 'Krajina' parastate on the occupied territory. Goran Hadzic, a one-time storeman in Pacetin village before the war, was even elevated to president of the Serb para-state for a while. (hina) jn as sd 281423 MET feb 95