Former Bosnian Croat leaders plead not guilty at war crimes tribunal

Six wartime Bosnian Croat officials have pleaded not guilty at The Hague war crimes tribunal to charges of ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.

The indictment against the men includes charges of responsibility for the murder, rape and deportation of Bosnian Muslims by Bosnian Croat forces during the conflict 12 years ago.

The six surrendered to the court on Monday.

Gen. Milivoj Petkovic, retired Gen. Slobodan Praljak, Jadranko Prilic, Valentin Coric, Bruno Stojic and Bersilav Pusic flew from Zagreb to Amsterdam on a commercial flight before surrendering to authorities in The Hague.

The six face charges of ethnic cleansing during the early 1990s Bosnian war. Two other Croatian generals surrendered to the tribunal in March.