Former Croat General remains in custody

A court in Croatia has decided that a former General, accused of war crimes, will remain in custody until an investigation into the allegations is completed.

General Mirko Norac is being investigated in connection with the killing of about forty ethnic Serb civilians in the city of Gospic in 1991.

He denies the charges.

General Norac gave himself up to the court in the town of Rijeka on Wednesday after spending two weeks on the run. A group of retired generals has urged a referendum on a law which would prevent trials against veterans of the Croatian war taking place.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service