ZAGREB, April 1, 2008 (AFP) - Croatian police said Tuesday they pressed charges against a fugitive former army general over a series of murders last week which have shocked the former Yugoslav republic.

Ivan Korade was charged with shooting dead his former aide as well as a 62-year-old woman, her 16-year-old grandson and a 63-year-old neighbour, police said.

Evidence found in Korade's house and car showed he was responsible for the murders, they added.

On Wednesday last week, Korade's aide and a former military policemen was found shot dead in the village of Vitesinec, some 70 kilometres (40 miles) north of Zagreb.

Police said the man was killed after a drinking session with Korade.

The former general is also charged for attempting to kill another man who witnessed the murder.

The motive for the murder of two of the victims -- the woman and the neighbor -- was likely to have been revenge for unresolved disputes from the past, police said.

The 16-year-old was most likely killed after witnessing the murder of his grandmother.

Some 400 police have been searching for the fugitive general in northern Croatia for the past five days.

Korade, 43, earned the rank of general during Croatia's 1991-1995 war of independence from the former communist Yugoslavia.

He is known for his violent behaviour which led to run-ins with police following various incidents including traffic accidents and fights.