The trial of the leader of Civic Initiative SDP Oliver Ivanović and four other Serbs has continued yesterday if front of the international panel of judges at the Basic Court in Mitrovica North with the hearing of witnesses of his defense.

The witness that was heard was Branislav Kokerić, Director of Feronikal, one of the biggest companies in Kosovo in 1999, whose deputy was Oliver Ivanović. He briefed the jury about the everyday work and that Oliver Ivanović has spent time at his work place, from the beginning of the conflict, as was claimed by the defense, instead in uniform as was claimed by the prosecution. Other witnesses of the defense will be heard in the course of this week.

Oliver Ivanović is currently in the house arrest where he was placed as of 21 September after he was discharged from the hospital, following his weeks-long hunger strike. He has been charged with committing war crimes against the civilians during 1999 and 2000. The same indictment encompasses and retired Serbian police colonel Dragoljub Delibašić, Ilija and Nebojša Vujačić, and Aleksandar Lazović, who are charged with murder and attempted murder.