Karadzic refuses to plead over war crime accusations

Indonesia News.Net
Friday 29th August, 2008

The UN tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic.

At his second plea hearing before his trial for charges of genocide in the 1992-95 Bosnian war, Karadzic refused to enter pleas for all of the 11 charges

Presiding judge Iain Bonomy heard Karadzic say: "I will not plead in line with my standpoint as regards to this court."

After Bonomy asked whether his position applied to all of the charges, Karadzic said: "Absolutely, yes."

Karadzic appeared at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia began by confirming his intent to represent himself, but said he would have helpers during the trial.

Karadzic has called the tribunal a "bastardised judicial system", claiming it is biased towards finding him guilty.

The charges against Karadzic, 63, involve genocide during the 43-month siege of Sarajevo and the 1995 massacre of 8,000 Muslims at Srebrenica.

The trial is expected to start next year.

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