Azerbaijani cop promises revelations on editor's murder

Former police colonel Haji Mammadov, who faces separate charges of contract hits and kidnapping of businessmen and their relatives, last month took responsibility for the 2005 slaying of Monitor magazine editor Elmar Husseynov in a highly publicized courtroom confession.

Defense lawyers have suggested the confession was made under pressure and prosecutors have voiced doubt over Mammadov's testimony.

According to AFP, in Monday's session, Mammadov reiterated that he was to blame for the killing but added that he would provide details of the crime only to a "closed circle" of trial officials.

"This information should not be heard by a wide audience. Having received this information you will agree that we cannot talk about it publicly," Mammadov told the court.

In July, Mammadov told the court that Husseynov's killing had been ordered by Azerbaijan's former minister for economic development, Farkhad Aliyev, who has been in prison accused of orchestrating a coup attempt.

/BakuTODAY/