Serbia/UN

Karadzic appears before war crimes judge

Article published on the 2008-07-31 Latest update 2008-07-31 15:38 TU

Karadzic, on trial (l) and on the run
(Photo: Reuters)

Former Bosnian-Serb leader Radovan Karadzic appeared before the the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)  in The Hague on Thursday, facing genocide charges after 13 years on the run. Judge Alphons Orie read out the indictment to Karadzic, who was sporting a short haircut, but appeared paler and thinner than when he headed the Bosnian-Serb republic during Bosnia's 1992-1995 war.

"You are charged with one count of genocide, with one count of complicity of genocide, with five counts of crimes against humanity, and four counts of war crimes," Orie told Karadzic, who is representing himself.

The charges of crimes against humanity "were in part of a widespread or systematic attack on the non-Serb civilian population in Bosnia and Herzegovina and that the acts or omissions charged as genocide were committeed with the intent to destroy in whole or in part, the Bosnian Muslim and the Bosnian Croat ethnic groups," Orie read from the indictment.

Karadzic repeatedly stated that he wanted to speak to the court regarding "irregularities" without going into detail.

Orie suggested that Karadzic make his submissions to the chamber so that those issues could be discussed.

When asked by the judge if he had any complaints on his treatment, he responded, "I've been in worse places, so this is all right." He also said that he was in perfect health.

Orie adjourned the trial until Friday, 29 August.