Zagreb - A former general appeared in court in his native Croatia on Friday to face charges of embezzlement, a day after his extradition from Austria, Croatian television reported.

General Vladimir Zagorec, 44, did not make a plea when he appeared for the first time before a judge after skipping a hearing last year and fleeing to Austria where he was arrested last week.

A weapons dealer for the Croatian armed forces during the Balkan nation's 1991-95 war of independence from Yugoslavia, Zagorec, was remanded in detention for one month while investigations continue.

Croatian officials say he defrauded the government of 5 million dollars worth of diamonds meant for arms purchases and also embezzled money sent home by Croats living abroad.(dpa)