The former Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan Karadzic, has appeared for the first time at the UN war crimes tribunal.
Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has appeared at a UN war crimes court after 13 years on the run.
Mr Karadzic was indicted on 11 counts of war crimes in connection with the 1990s Bosnian conflict, including genocide and crimes against humanity.
He has been indicted on 11 counts of war crimes in connection with the 1990s Bosnian conflict, including genocide and crimes against humanity.
He was given 30 days to decide on a plea. A new hearing date was set for 29 August. The prosecution told the judge it wanted to amend the indictment.
Mr Karadzic said he had an "invisible adviser" but had decided to represent himself during the trial. He was given 30 days to decide how to plead.
Mr Karadzic was arrested in Belgrade last week after 13 years on the run.
The tribunal judge in The Hague adjourned the hearing until 29 August.
The judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Alphons Orie, said Mr Karadzic would be held in a detention centre until the next hearing, but could file for provisional release.
Alphons Orie said Mr Karadzic would be held in a Dutch detention centre until the next hearing, but could file for provisional release.
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Radovan Karadzic appears at the UN war-crimes tribunal
Radovan Karadzic appears at the UN war-crimes tribunal
Mr Karadzic told the court he had decided to represent himself throughout the proceedings, although he said he had what he called an invisible adviser.
Mr Orie said the indictment included one count of genocide, once count of complicity of genocide, five of crimes against humanity, and four counts of war crimes.
Mr Orie said the indictment included one count of genocide, once count of complicity of genocide, five of crimes against humanity, and four counts of war crimes.
The alleged crimes included his involvement in an attempt to destroy in whole or in part the Bosnian Muslim and Bosnian Croat ethnic groups. THE INDICTMENT Eleven counts of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other atrocitiesCharged over shelling Sarajevo during the city's siege, in which some 12,000 civilians diedAllegedly organised the massacre of up to 8,000 Bosniak men and youths in SrebrenicaTargeted Bosniak and Croat political leaders, intellectuals and professionalsUnlawfully deported and transferred civilians because of national or religious identityDestroyed homes, businesses and sacred sites
The alleged crimes included Mr Karadzic's involvement in an attempt to destroy in whole or in part the Bosnian Muslim and Bosnian Croat ethnic groups. THE INDICTMENT Eleven counts of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other atrocitiesCharged over shelling Sarajevo during the city's siege, in which some 12,000 civilians diedAllegedly organised the massacre of up to 8,000 Bosniak men and youths in SrebrenicaTargeted Bosniak and Croat political leaders, intellectuals and professionalsUnlawfully deported and transferred civilians because of national or religious identityDestroyed homes, businesses and sacred sites
That included the killing of thousands of civilians in Srebenica by Bosnian Serb forces, and the shelling of Sarajevo, killing and terrorising the city's civilians.
That included the killing of thousands of civilians in Srebenica by Bosnian Serb forces, and the shelling of Sarajevo, killing and terrorising the city's civilians.
Mr Orie said Mr Karadzic knew about the crimes that were being committed by Bosnian Serb forces, but failed to take action to prevent them.
Mr Orie said Mr Karadzic knew about the crimes that were being committed by Bosnian Serb forces, but failed to take action to prevent them.
During the hearing, the prosecution said it wanted to amend the indictment.
During the hearing at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the prosecution said it wanted to amend the indictment but gave no further details.
Mr Karadzic, who appeared in court shorn of the long hair and bushy beard he grew while on the run, said he wanted more time to study any new indictment.
Mr Karadzic, who appeared in court shorn of the long hair and bushy beard he grew while on the run, said he would want more time to study any new indictment.
When asked whether he had any issues to raise, Mr Karadzic said he wanted to inform the judge about irregularities about his transfer to tribunal. He said he had been seized and held by "unknown civilians" for three days before the official arrest date given to the court.
When asked whether he had any issues to raise, Mr Karadzic said he wanted to inform the judge about irregularities about his transfer to tribunal. He said he had been seized and held by "unknown civilians" for three days before the official arrest date given to the court.
He said his rights were denied him - even the opportunity to telephone or text friends who may have been searching for him in hospitals or mortuaries.
He said his rights were denied him - even the opportunity to telephone or text friends who may have been searching for him in hospitals or mortuaries.
Mr Karadzic wanted to read out a four-page speech which included details about an alleged deal with the former US ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke for him to withdraw from public and literary life.
Mr Karadzic wanted to read out a four-page speech which included details about an alleged deal with the former US ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke for him to withdraw from public and literary life.
Mr Karadzic said he had wanted to appear before the tribunal when first indicted in 1996 - but was in fear of being "liquidated" if he did so, under the terms of the "deal".
Mr Karadzic said he had wanted to appear before the tribunal when first indicted in 1996 - but was in fear of being "liquidated" if he did so, under the terms of the "deal".
The judge stopped him and said these were not matters for the initial hearing and he would get ample opportunity to explain them to the tribunal.
The judge stopped him and said these were not matters for the initial hearing and he would get ample opportunity to explain them to the tribunal.
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Inside the UN detention centre in The Hague
Mr Karadzic's decision to conduct his own defence means this first court appearance is likely to be just the opening skirmish in a long legal battle, says the BBC's Dominic Hughes in The Hague.
Mr Karadzic's decision to conduct his own defence means this first court appearance is likely to be just the opening skirmish in a long legal battle, says the BBC's Dominic Hughes in The Hague.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, the tribunal's chief prosecutor, Serge Brammertz, said Mr Karadzic's arrest was "immensely important", adding that the victims of the war had "waited too long for this day".
'Appeal ruse'
'Appeal ruse'
Mr Karadzic left Belgrade on Wednesday hours after clashes at a rally attended by at least 10,000 supporters to protest about his arrest.
Mr Karadzic left Belgrade on Wednesday hours after clashes at a rally attended by at least 10,000 supporters to protest about his arrest.
He then took a special flight to Rotterdam airport in the Netherlands, from where he was transferred to the UN's detention unit.
He then took a special flight to Rotterdam airport in the Netherlands, from where he was transferred to the UN's detention unit.
The 63-year-old had reportedly attempted to challenge the legality of his transfer, but a senior member of his legal team has now told the BBC that no appeal was ever lodged.
The 63-year-old had reportedly attempted to challenge the legality of his transfer, but a senior member of his legal team has now told the BBC that no appeal was ever lodged.
Karadzic's daughter and wife will now receive passports
Goran Petronijevic, who joined the Karadzic legal team on Tuesday, admitted that reports of an appeal being sent by post to the authorities in Serbia had been a ruse designed to delay Mr Karadzic's extradition in order to allow time for his family to visit him in jail.
Goran Petronijevic, who joined the Karadzic legal team on Tuesday, admitted that reports of an appeal being sent by post to the authorities in Serbia had been a ruse designed to delay Mr Karadzic's extradition in order to allow time for his family to visit him in jail.
However, a travel ban on his family was lifted on Wednesday, to allow them to visit him in The Hague.
However, a travel ban on his family was lifted on Wednesday, to allow them to visit him in The Hague.
Their documents had been confiscated in January under suspicion that they were helping Mr Karadzic in hiding.
Their documents had been confiscated in January under suspicion that they were helping Mr Karadzic in hiding.
Mr Karadzic was arrested on 21 July in Belgrade. He had changed his appearance and was working as an alternative therapist.
Mr Karadzic was arrested on 21 July in Belgrade. He had changed his appearance and was working as an alternative therapist.
EU pressure
Mr Karadzic led the formation of a separate Bosnian Serb assembly in 1991 - one of the sparks that ignited the 1992-1995 Bosnian war.
Mr Karadzic led the formation of a separate Bosnian Serb assembly in 1991 - one of the sparks that ignited the 1992-1995 Bosnian war.
Karadzic's daughter and wife will now receive passports
As well as the charges he faces over Srebrenica and Sarajevo, he is also accused of using 284 UN peacekeepers as human shields in May and June 1995.
He has been indicted for crimes against humanity and genocide over the massacre of up to 8,000 mainly Muslim Bosniaks at Srebrenica in 1995.
/>What is your reaction to Mr Karadzic's appearance at The Hague? What will be the impact of the trial? Send your comments using the form below:
He has also been charged over the shelling of Sarajevo, and the use of 284 UN peacekeepers as human shields in May and June 1995.
On Tuesday, EU ambassadors meeting in Brussels decided to defer a decision on unfreezing trade benefits for Serbia until Mr Karadzic was transferred to The Hague.
The EU is also demanding the arrest of Mr Karadzic's wartime military commander General Ratko Mladic, who remains at large.
Were you affected by the Bosnian war? What will be the impact of the trial at The Hague? Send your comments using the form below:
