Bombay, Sept 22, SPA -- Sixteen Hindus were charged Wednesday with burning to death 14 Muslims, in a retrial seen as a test of the government's ability to bring to justice thoseresponsible for religious rioting that rocked western Indiain 2002. The men were among 21 suspects acquitted last year by alower court in the killings at a family-owned bakery inGujarat state, where riots left 1,000 people dead, mostlyMuslims. The Supreme Court, however, ordered a retrial after humanrights groups claimed many witnesses retracted theirstatements because of threats from Hindu nationalists. Italso ordered that the retrial be held outside Gujarat. The Bombay High Court opened the second trial on Wednesdayand read out 18 charges against the 16 men. They includedmurder, unlawful assembly, damage to property, attempt tocause grievous hurt, and rioting with deadly weapons. Five of the suspects have fled, and presiding Judge AbhayThipsay said they would be charged after they have beenfound. The 21 are accused of torching the family-run Best Bakeryin Vadodara, 97 kilometers (60 miles) south of Ahmadabad,Gujarat's largest city, on March 1, 2002. Fourteen Muslimsdied in the blaze, including two children. The suspects pleaded not guilty on Wednesday. Ifconvicted, they could face the death penalty. The trial was adjourned until Oct. 4.--SPA1514 Local Time 1214 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/204002