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| Karadzic calls Serb cause 'holy' | Karadzic calls Serb cause 'holy' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Former leader Radovan Karadzic has said the Serb cause in the Bosnian war was "just and holy" as he began his defence at his genocide trial at The Hague. | Former leader Radovan Karadzic has said the Serb cause in the Bosnian war was "just and holy" as he began his defence at his genocide trial at The Hague. |
| Mr Karadzic, who led the Bosnian Serbs during the war in the 1990s, said there was a core group of Muslims in Bosnia - then and now - who wanted 100% power. | |
| Speaking in the Hague, he insisted the Serbs were only acting in self-defence. | |
| He insists he is innocent of all 11 charges from the 1992-95 Bosnian war, including genocide and war crimes. | |
| The trial had been adjourned since November and the judge rejected a new request for a further postponement. | The trial had been adjourned since November and the judge rejected a new request for a further postponement. |
| 'Good case' | |
| Mr Karadzic suspended his boycott and appeared in court along with his lawyer on Monday as the trial resumed. | |
| "I will defend that nation of ours and their cause that is just and holy," Mr Karadzic said in translated comments at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). | "I will defend that nation of ours and their cause that is just and holy," Mr Karadzic said in translated comments at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). |
| THE CHARGES Eleven counts of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other atrocitiesCharged over shelling of 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 Delays and prevarications at trial | |
| "We have a good case. We have good evidence and proof." | "We have a good case. We have good evidence and proof." |
| He is expected to present a two-day opening statement before prosecutors present their first witness on Wednesday. | He is expected to present a two-day opening statement before prosecutors present their first witness on Wednesday. |
| Mr Karadzic, 64, faces two charges of genocide - including the killing in Srebrenica of more than 7,000 men and boys - as well as nine other counts including murder, extermination, persecution and forced deportation. | Mr Karadzic, 64, faces two charges of genocide - including the killing in Srebrenica of more than 7,000 men and boys - as well as nine other counts including murder, extermination, persecution and forced deportation. |
| Prosecutors say he orchestrated a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" against Muslims and Croats in eastern Bosnia to create an ethnically pure Serbian state. | Prosecutors say he orchestrated a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" against Muslims and Croats in eastern Bosnia to create an ethnically pure Serbian state. |
| In his opening statement last October, prosecutor Alan Tieger said Mr Karadzic "harnessed the forces of nationalism, hatred and fear to pursue his vision of an ethnically segregated Bosnia". | In his opening statement last October, prosecutor Alan Tieger said Mr Karadzic "harnessed the forces of nationalism, hatred and fear to pursue his vision of an ethnically segregated Bosnia". |
| 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, he was president of the self-styled Bosnian Serb republic and commander of its army during the Bosnian conflict which left more than 100,000 people dead. | During his time in power, he was president of the self-styled Bosnian Serb republic and commander of its army during the Bosnian conflict which left more than 100,000 people dead. |