Story highlights
NEW: Judges adjourn the trial until June 26
Buzeid Dorda is the first former Libyan regime official to face trial
He is accused of being responsible for the killing of protesters
He not only denies the charges but says "they are the opposite of what I did"
Deposed dictator Moammar Gadhafi’s foreign spy chief went on trial Tuesday, the first former regime official to be put before prosecutors in post-revolutionary Libya.
Looking resigned to his fate and sounding hoarse when he spoke, Buzeid Dorda denied charges including responsibility for the killing of protesters.
“I not only deny the charges, I am saying they are made up and they are the opposite of what I did,” he said.
Dorda is also charged with trying to use his tribesmen to take action against the country, abusing his position to deny people their rights and using his authority to suppress the people.
He appeared in a blue jumpsuit and carried crutches as two security officers assisted him into court, where he sat behind a wire mesh. He was not cuffed or otherwise restrained.
The former intelligence chief stood as the charges were read, holding the wire mesh for support, and asked if he could respond to each accusation in turn.
His lawyer objected, saying that it was the first time Dorda was hearing the charges. The lawyer asked for an adjournment of a month to prepare his case.
Prosecutors countered that Dorda had been told the charges when his detention was extended.
Judges retired to deliberate, then announced the trial would continue on June 26.
