A retired Bosnian general on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to charges of "crimes against humanity" over his alleged role in the murder of more than 300 Serbs, mostly civilians, during the 1990s war.
Atif Dudakovic, who commanded a unit of the Bosnian Muslim (Bosniak) army during the intercommunal conflict, is facing trial alongside 16 others from his corps.
"I am not guilty of any charges," the 65-year-old said in court. The other defendants present entered the same plea. According to prosecutors, the men carried out the killings from 1994-95 in the northwest region of Bihac, which was at the time surrounded by Serb forces. The victims were "mostly elderly civilians, as well as prisoners of war who either surrendered or were arrested," a statement from the prosecutor's offices said.
Some of the bodies have been exhumed from mass graves, while others are still missing, it added.