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Serb nationalist boycotts trial | |
(about 8 hours later) | |
The ultra-nationalist Serbian politician Vojislav Seselj has refused to attend the start of his war crimes trial at the UN tribunal in The Hague. | |
The leader of the Serbian Radical Party, the biggest party in Serbia's parliament, was expected to defend himself against the charges. | |
He has been on hunger strike for two weeks and is said to be getting weaker. | |
Mr Seselj is charged with forming a joint criminal enterprise with former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. | |
He also faces similar charges in connection with the fugitive former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic between 1991 and 1993. | He also faces similar charges in connection with the fugitive former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic between 1991 and 1993. |
His case is likely to echo that of Milosevic, who died in custody in the tribunal's detention unit in March, says the BBC's Geraldine Coughlan in The Hague. | |
Visit demand | Visit demand |
It had been half-expected that Mr Seselj would not attend the first day of his trial, after he began a hunger strike in his cell two weeks ago, and refused to attend a pre-trial hearing last week. | |
He is demanding the right to choose his own stand-by defence lawyer - and unrestricted visits from his wife. | He is demanding the right to choose his own stand-by defence lawyer - and unrestricted visits from his wife. |
Vojislav Seselj is charged with the extermination and deportation of non-Serbs from Bosnia and Croatia, along with his old ally, former President Milosevic. | Vojislav Seselj is charged with the extermination and deportation of non-Serbs from Bosnia and Croatia, along with his old ally, former President Milosevic. |
Like Milosevic, Mr Seselj refuses to recognise the court and insists on acting as his own lawyer. | Like Milosevic, Mr Seselj refuses to recognise the court and insists on acting as his own lawyer. |
His trial has also been delayed because of what the court describes as his disruptive behaviour during proceedings. | His trial has also been delayed because of what the court describes as his disruptive behaviour during proceedings. |
This poses a real problem for the judges, who have to balance Vojislav Seselj's right to a fair trial with the interests of justice, says our correspondent. |