The trial of a top lieutenant of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat accused by Israel of murder and terrorism got off to a rowdy start in a Tel Aviv court today.
The indictment hearing for Mr Marwan Barghuti was delayed as officials briefly ordered journalists out of the courtroom after they shouted questions at the defendant, who was briefly removed when he tried to answer.
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After the noise had died down, journalists and Mr Barghuti returned to the chamber and the defendant was allowed to speak. "I am a freedom fighter, I am a member of parliament," he said.
However, the father of one of the people killed by militants allegedly commanded by Mr Barghuti shouted out: "You're a murderer, you're a terrorist. Freedom fighters are supposed to attack soldiers, but you murdered my son".
The prosecutor read out the charges against Mr Barghuti - for the murder or abetting the murder of 26 people and heading the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed wing of Mr Arafat's Fatah movement. The session closed after the charges were heard.
Mr Barghuti made a first, defiant appearance before the same court on August 14th, when he told journalists he was a "man of peace" and pledged that the Palestinian uprising, or intifada, would win.
AFP