A Bosnian Serb accused of thetorture and murder of non-Serbs in a prison during the 1992-95Bosnian war declined to plead to war crimes charges at The Haguetribunal today, the court said.
Mr Mitar Rasevic surrendered to the tribunal on Friday. He isaccused of being the commander of prison guards from 1992-94 atthe KP Dom prison at Foca in southern Bosnia where non-Serbprisoners were beaten with batons.
Mr Rasevic is charged with seven counts of crimes againsthumanity, five counts of violations of the laws or customs ofwar and six counts of grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions.
The charges include murder, torture and inhuman treatment.
"He declined to enter a plea to the charges contained in theindictment," tribunal spokesman Mr Jim Landale said.
Mr Rasevic, who waived his right to have the charges read outin court during his first appearance at the UN tribunal, willbe asked again by judges to enter a plea within 30 days of hisinitial appearance.
If he declines to plead on that occasion, judges willautomatically enter not guilty pleas on his behalf.