United States District Judge Paul Barbadoro has said he is concerned about pretrial publicity on the case and as many as 250 prospective jurors will be asked about their exposure to news coverage - something that could extend jury selection for several days.

Acevedo, the first Puerto Rican governor to face federal charges since the Caribbean island became a US commonwealth in 1952, entered the federal compound with his wife and mother as a small crowd of supporters greeted him with cheers and applause.

"I am at ease," Acevedo said outside the courthouse.

Acevedo faces nine criminal counts alleging he violated laws in financing his campaigns for the island's nonvoting seat in the US Congress in 2000 and 2002.

Innocent plea

Defence attorney Thomas Green entered the innocent plea on Acevedo's behalf to five counts at the start of Monday's hearing. The former governor already had pleaded not guilty to the other charges.

The judge earlier threw out other charges related to accusations he tried to obtain $7 million in public financing for his 2004 campaign for governor.

A Harvard-educated attorney and career politician, Acevedo served in the US Congress for four years before he was elected governor in 2004 on an anti-corruption platform. Indicted in March, Acevedo lost a re-election bid in November and left office on January 2.

Seven of the governor's 12 co-defendants have pleaded guilty, including at least three who have agreed to testify against Acevedo in exchange for more lenient sentences.

- AP