Bosnian Croats deny murders

Nine Bosnian Croats and their former leader pleaded innocent to UN charges that they terrorised and murdered Muslims in a vicious campaign of ethnic cleansing.

Dario Kordic, the most senior suspect in custody at the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal, looked relaxed and confident as he entered "not guilty" pleas to 13 separate crimes against humanity and war crimes charges.

Each charge carries a maximum life sentence.

Troops under Kordic's control are blamed for a spree of killing and destruction in the central Bosnian Lasva Valley in 1992 and 1993 aimed at purging the area of Muslims.