Iceland's Haarde Denies Criminality

A special Icelandic court on Monday found former prime minister Geir Haarde guilty on one count over the collapse of Iceland's banks in 2008 but acquitted him of three other charges."Geir Haarde will not be punished," Markus Sigurbjornsson, the head of the never-before-used special court Landsdomur for current and ex-ministers, said as he began reading out the verdict.

A special Icelandic court on Monday found former prime minister Geir Haarde guilty on one of four charges over the collapse of the country's banks in 2008."Geir Haarde will not be punished," Markus Sigurbjornsson, the head of the never-before-used special court Landsdomur, said, adding that Haarde had been found guilty of not meeting with his cabinet ministers when the issue turned critical.

Iceland's former prime minister Geir Haarde went on trial in Reykjavik on Monday on charges related to Iceland's banking sector collapse.Haarde, 60, who arrived minutes before proceedings began at 1000 GMT looking cheerful and accompanied by his wife, has said he would ask the court to dismiss the charges, calling the trial a "farce."

REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) -- A special court heard arguments Monday about whether to dismiss charges against former Prime Minister Geir Haarde, who has been accused of failing to prevent the 2008 financial crisis in Iceland....

By GUDJON HELGASON and PAISLEY DODDS 2010-09-28T19:24:39Z REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) -- Iceland's former Prime Minister Geir Haarde has been referred to a special court in a move that could make him the first world leader to be charged in connection with the global financial crisis....