Karadzic complains about capture

2008-07-31 19:14

The Hague - Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic made a combative first appearance at the UN war crimes court on Thursday, complaining about "irregularities" in his capture and insisting he would defend himself at trial.

After hearing Judge Alphons Orie read out the 11 war crimes charges which were first laid against him in 1995, Karazdic opted to delay entering a plea for up to 30 days.

He swiftly waived his right to counsel for the hearing and said he would do so for the whole trial.

"I intend to represent myself ... throughout the trial regardless of what I think of this institution, with all due respect to you," he told Orie.

"You were misinformed about the date of my arrest," Karadzic told the judge, as he complained of "numerous irregularities concerning my relation to this institution and my appearance here".

He also mentioned a deal he claimed was made with US negotiator Richard Holbrooke at the end of the 1992-95 Bosnian war that involved his withdrawal from public life.

But as he sought to list his grievances in detail, he was stopped short by the judge, who insisted that they be included in motions set before the court at a later date.

Although clearly frustrated, Karadzic maintained his composure throughout the hearing, never raising his voice and only speaking when asked to by the judge.

Some observers say Karadzic is likely to use his genocide trial to shed light on claims that a backroom deal with Western powers helped him evade capture for more than a decade.

"This is a political man, a former poet, he likes being the centre of attention," said international justice expert Heikelina Verrijn Stuart.

"He will try to use the dock to tell how he was able to escape arrest for 13 years and make revelations about the role of the West," she said.

The next hearing is set for August 29.

- AFP