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Court imposes lawyer on Karadzic Court imposes lawyer on Karadzic
(20 minutes later)
The UN's Yugoslav war crimes court has appointed a lawyer for ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and adjourned his genocide trial to 1 March. The UN's Yugoslav war crimes court has appointed a lawyer to represent ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic whenever he fails to appear in court.
Mr Karadzic - who has been representing himself - appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday after boycotting the start of the trial. It also adjourned his trial to 1 March to give his counsel time to prepare.
He argued that he had insufficient time to prepare his defence and sought a 10-month adjournment. Mr Karadzic - who has been representing himself - appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday after boycotting the start of the trial last week.
He insists he is innocent of all 11 war crimes charges from the 1992-95 Bosnian war, but has refused to enter pleas.
Mr Karadzic, 64, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.
'Tactics'
"The accused's conduct has effectively brought the trial to a halt, which is evidently his purpose," a court statement said, AFP news agency reported.
THE CHARGES 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 Karadzic trial: key events Q&A: Karadzic on trial Have your say: Trial expectations Karadzic defiant at Hague hearing
It ordered the court registry to appoint counsel to represent Mr Karadzic's interests when the trial resumes, "if that should be required", stating that he would still "continue to represent himself including by dealing with the day-to-day matters."
Mr Karadzic has seven days to apply for permission to appeal.
At Tuesday's hearing, he argued that he had insufficient time to prepare his defence and sought a 10-month adjournment.
But presiding Judge O-Gon Kwon dismissed the claim, saying the court had already determined the defendant had had ample time to prepare.
Mr Karadzic was arrested in Belgrade in 2008, after nearly 13 years on the run.Mr Karadzic was arrested in Belgrade in 2008, after nearly 13 years on the run.
During his time in power, Mr Karadzic was president of the Bosnian-Serb Republika Srpska, and commander of its army during the 1992-1995 Bosnian conflict, which left more than 100,000 people dead. Wartime leader
During his time in power, Mr Karadzic was president of the self-styled Bosnian Serb republic, and commander of its army during the 1992-1995 Bosnian conflict, which left more than 100,000 people dead.
He was indicted in 1995, and faces two charges of genocide, nine of war crimes and crimes against humanity.He was indicted in 1995, and faces two charges of genocide, nine of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
He was taken to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague last year.He was taken to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague last year.
Prosecutors say Mr Karadzic led an ethnic cleansing campaign in the conflict, calling him the "undisputed leader" of Serbs responsible for carrying out atrocities.Prosecutors say Mr Karadzic led an ethnic cleansing campaign in the conflict, calling him the "undisputed leader" of Serbs responsible for carrying out atrocities.
Prosecutors have said he was responsible for the Srebrenica massacre, in which up to 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed.Prosecutors have said he was responsible for the Srebrenica massacre, in which up to 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed.
The Bosniak people - most of them Muslims - are descended from Bosnian Slavs who adopted Islam under Ottoman Turkish rule in the Middle Ages The Bosniak people - most of them Muslims - are descended from Bosnian Slavs who adopted Islam under Ottoman Turkish rule in the Middle Ages.
Mr Karadzic has not entered a plea, but is protesting his innocence.
He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.