A former military leader of Guinea, Moussa Dadis Camara, has denied being behind the 2009 stadium massacre at a trial in the capital, Conakry, the AFP news agency reports.
More than 150 people were killed, and women and girls were raped at the protest against military rule 13 years ago.
Monday was the first time that Capt Camara gave evidence at the trial which began in September.
Ten other former officials are on trial alongside Capt Camara, who is charged with having command responsibility over the soldiers who carried out the alleged crimes.
Capt Camara told the judge that he does not recognise the charges and then proceeded to make a long speech in which he referenced European philosophers and Egyptian Pharaohs, AFP reports.
On the day of the killings, 28 September 2009, security forces tried to stop the rally going ahead and allegedly blocked off the exits to a stadium in Conakry, before opening fire. Some protesters were shot dead or attacked with knives, while others were trampled on.
The long-delayed trial is the first involving human rights violations on this scale in Guinea, rights group Human Rights Watch has said.
Capt Camara was supposed to have given evidence last week but proceedings were delayed as he was unwell.
The 58-year-old seized power in 2008 when long-time President Lansana Conté died, but he was ousted and fled the country not long after the Conakry killings, following an assassination attempt.
He had been living in Burkina Faso before returning to Guinea for the trial.
