A man who's alleged to have been a paramilitary commander with the Bosnian Croat forces goes on trial in the Dutch city ofthe Hague today 0830B before the Yugoslav War Crimes tribunal.

It's the sixth case to come before the tribunal and the first in which sexual violence during interrogation is being prosecuted.

The defendant, Anto Furundzija, is charged with failing to prevent the torture of two women prisoners and the rape of one of them by a subordinate.

The offences are said to have taken place five years ago at the town of Vitez, west of Sarajevo.