Two local governments and a security company being sued by relatives of people killed in a fatal crush after a fireworks display admitted Friday they are liable for compensation but rejected the plaintiffs' reasons for responsibility.

Eleven people were killed and 247 people were injured in the crush on a pedestrian overpass July 21, 2001, in Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture. Nine of the dead were children aged between 5 months and 9 years. The remaining two were in their 70s.

The 850 million yen damages suit was lodged in October at the Kobe District Court by families of eight of the people who died against the Hyogo Prefectural Government, the municipal government of Akashi, and Nisikan Co., a Fukuoka-based security firm.

Friday's session was the first in the case.