Kasab pleads not guilty

MUMBAI: A Pakistani man on trial in India over last year's Mumbai attacks pleaded not guilty to all charges Wednesday, including waging war against the country.

Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, 21, denied 86 charges which were formally put to him at a special prison court in Mumbai that is hearing evidence about the November 26-29 attacks, when 166 people were killed and more than 300 injured.

The defendant, wearing a buttoned-down mauve shirt and blue jeans, looked relaxed as he replied in Hindi to the indictment.

"It is all wrong," he told the court. "I do not accept the charges." In court documents, Kasab gave his full name as Mohammed Ajmal Mohammed Amir Kasab and stated he was a labourer from Faridkot in Pakistani Punjab.

He signed the papers, saying that he understood the charges against him.

The charges, which run to 50 pages, were read out in court by judge M.L. Tahiliyani.

They include waging war against India, destabilising the government, murder, kidnap, robbery and "causing terror," as well as smuggling illegal arms and high explosives into the country.

Kasab is on trial with two Indian men, who are accused of providing logistical support for the 10 gunmen who attacked Mumbai. They face the same charges and also pleaded not guilty.