September 6, 2002	Friday	Jamadi-us-Saani27,1423

TEL AVIV, Sept 5: Marwan Barghuti, the top Palestinian to be tried by Israel since the beginning of the intifada, appeared in an uproarious court session on Thursday on charges of murder and terrorism, as more killings threatened to scotch hopes for a fresh peace initiative.

The West Bank leader of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement refused to recognise the jurisdiction of the Tel Aviv District court on the grounds he is an elected member of parliament and rejected the indictment read to him.

“I am a freedom fighter, I am a member of parliament,” said Barghuti. He sought to turn the table on his captors.

“You brought me here by force; I don’t want to see your indictment,” he said, refusing to accept the written copy of the charge sheet.—AFP