The trial will establish the truth surrounding the events of the coup attempt on 28 May

Joseph Bindoumi Chief prosecutor

He faces charges related to a failed coup attempt in May last year.

Mr Demafouth is one of 85 defendants who were allegedly involved in the rebellion that claimed more than 59 lives.

But only 69 of those accused were present on Friday at the trial which took place amid tight security.

The general public were at first let into the trial, which has been postponed on a number of occasions, but then forced to leave.

However, human rights representatives, members of parliament and the local press were allowed to stay in court.

House arrest

The flamboyant defence minister has been under house-arrest awaiting trial since last August, when Mr Patasse replaced key figures with his allies in the defence and interior ministries.

"Fortunately I was not beaten. But I haven't been able to see a lawyer or members of my family," Mr Demafouth told the BBC.

The maximum sentence for coup plotters is death

The 42-year old politician looked well, and hardly able to contain his joy at seeing his wife, Darlan, a lawyer, who was also present at the court.

The trial was then adjourned to next week, after Mr Demafouth's lawyers, who had not met him before Friday, demanded more time to prepare their case.

Many people who were called before the tribunal have fled the country, claiming that the trial was not going to be fair.

Most of those accused are from the same Yakoma tribe as the coup leader, a former president, Mr Andre Kolingba, who is presently seeking refuge in Uganda.

Thousands of Yakoma fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo following the coup attempt, after extra-judicial killings of members of their tribe.

The court case is a result of a special inquiry committee into the coup established last June by the incumbent president Mr Ange-Felix Patasse.

Bozize pardoned

The committee which finished the investigation in December has proved controversial.

The refusal by the army chief, General Francois Bozize, to answer the commission's questions last November sparked a stand-off between the former general and Patasse.

There has been much confusion surrounding the commission's investigation

Mathias Bathelemy Human Rights

General Bozize, who is now in Chad, received a pardon from the president, and so he will not be charged by the commission.

"There has been much confusion surrounding the commission's investigation," said Mathias Bathelemy from the Human Rights Observatory.

Opposition politicians say the commission is unconstitutional and are calling for the trial to be abolished.

"The manner in which the commission has operated has been deplorable.

"Arrests have been based on hearsay not verified evidence," said Paul Bellet, head of the largest coalition of opposition parties.

However, United Nations official at the trial, Mr Mamadi Diakite, gave the commission the benefit of the doubt.

"We are hoping this will be a fair trial and that full legal procedures will be followed," Mr Diakite said.

The truth

And talking to the BBC before the trial, the head of the inquiry committee, general chief prosecutor, Mr Joseph Bindoumi, said people involved in the coup should be brought to justice.

General Bozize was pardoned by Patasse

"Our century is a century of lies. The trial will establish the truth surrounding the events of the coup attempt on 28 May," he said.

"The families of those victims who died in the event must see that the government is taking action against the perpetrators of the crimes," Mr Bindoumi added.

The maximum sentence for undermining state security is the death penalty.

However, this punishment has not passed by any court in the country since 1980.