This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25923102

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Mladic refuses to give evidence for Karadzic at ICTY trial Mladic refuses to testify for Karadzic at ICTY trial
(35 minutes later)
Ex-Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic has refused to testify after former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic called him as a defence witness at his war crimes trial at The Hague.Ex-Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic has refused to testify after former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic called him as a defence witness at his war crimes trial at The Hague.
It was the first time the men had appeared together in public since the end of the 1990s war in Bosnia.It was the first time the men had appeared together in public since the end of the 1990s war in Bosnia.
Denouncing the UN Yugoslav war crimes tribunal as "satanic", Mr Mladic said testifying could harm his own case.Denouncing the UN Yugoslav war crimes tribunal as "satanic", Mr Mladic said testifying could harm his own case.
Both men deny charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.Both men deny charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In his case, Mr Karadzic faces 11 charges, including genocide relating to the Srebrenica massacre in July 1995.In his case, Mr Karadzic faces 11 charges, including genocide relating to the Srebrenica massacre in July 1995.
'Hate court''Hate court'
At Tuesday's hearing, Mr Karadzic's lawyer argued that Mr Mladic was "the one person in the whole world who knows best what happened in the war in Bosnia" and that Mr Karadzic was asking him to do his best to testify and to tell what had occurred.At Tuesday's hearing, Mr Karadzic's lawyer argued that Mr Mladic was "the one person in the whole world who knows best what happened in the war in Bosnia" and that Mr Karadzic was asking him to do his best to testify and to tell what had occurred.
Ratko Mladic initially refused to take the oath, saying: "Your subpoenas, your platitudes, your false indictments, I do not care one bit about any of it."Ratko Mladic initially refused to take the oath, saying: "Your subpoenas, your platitudes, your false indictments, I do not care one bit about any of it."
He added: "I do not recognise this hate court. It is a satanic court."He added: "I do not recognise this hate court. It is a satanic court."
The judge warned him he could be held in contempt, with a possible jail term of up to seven years.The judge warned him he could be held in contempt, with a possible jail term of up to seven years.
The session was then adjourned, apparently so Mr Mladic's dentures could be retrieved from his cell.The session was then adjourned, apparently so Mr Mladic's dentures could be retrieved from his cell.
On the court's return, the judge advised Mr Mladic he was not obliged to answer questions if he thought the answers would incriminate him.On the court's return, the judge advised Mr Mladic he was not obliged to answer questions if he thought the answers would incriminate him.
Mr Karadzic then addressed Mr Mladic in person, saying: "Good morning general, sir."Mr Karadzic then addressed Mr Mladic in person, saying: "Good morning general, sir."
Mr Mladic did answer Mr Karadzic's first question - listing the posts and dates of his military career.Mr Mladic did answer Mr Karadzic's first question - listing the posts and dates of his military career.
But following the second question - Did you ever inform me that prisoners from Srebrenica would be, were being or had been executed? - Mr Mladic said: "I refuse to testify on the grounds of my health and because it may prejudice my rights as an accused."But following the second question - Did you ever inform me that prisoners from Srebrenica would be, were being or had been executed? - Mr Mladic said: "I refuse to testify on the grounds of my health and because it may prejudice my rights as an accused."
Lawyers representing Mr Mladic say he suffers from a memory disorder that makes it hard for him to differentiate between truth and fiction.Lawyers representing Mr Mladic say he suffers from a memory disorder that makes it hard for him to differentiate between truth and fiction.
The judge ruled Mr Mladic would not be compelled to answer.The judge ruled Mr Mladic would not be compelled to answer.
Mr Karadzic read out his remaining questions, but received the same reply.Mr Karadzic read out his remaining questions, but received the same reply.
Mr Mladic again asked if he could read out a seven-page statement but was refused. He denounced the court again as the session was adjourned.Mr Mladic again asked if he could read out a seven-page statement but was refused. He denounced the court again as the session was adjourned.
Mr Karadzic had been hoping his former ally's answers would support his claims that the orders to commit war crimes did not come from him, says the BBC's Anna Holligan in The Hague.Mr Karadzic had been hoping his former ally's answers would support his claims that the orders to commit war crimes did not come from him, says the BBC's Anna Holligan in The Hague.
The key charges facing Mr Karadzic relate to Sarajevo and Srebrenica.The key charges facing Mr Karadzic relate to Sarajevo and Srebrenica.
The siege of Sarajevo lasted for more than three-and-a-half years - starving the capital of food and power.The siege of Sarajevo lasted for more than three-and-a-half years - starving the capital of food and power.
Mr Karadzic is alleged to have orchestrated the shelling of Sarajevo, and the use of 284 UN peacekeepers as human shields in May and June 1995.Mr Karadzic is alleged to have orchestrated the shelling of Sarajevo, and the use of 284 UN peacekeepers as human shields in May and June 1995.
In the Srebrenica enclave, Bosnian Serb forces overran the UN-defended safe area in the worst atrocity in Europe since the end of World War Two.In the Srebrenica enclave, Bosnian Serb forces overran the UN-defended safe area in the worst atrocity in Europe since the end of World War Two.
More than 7,500 Muslim men and boys were killed.More than 7,500 Muslim men and boys were killed.
Ratko Mladic was the general in charge of the troops.Ratko Mladic was the general in charge of the troops.
His trial is being conducted simultaneously at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).His trial is being conducted simultaneously at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
False identitiesFalse identities
Mr Karadzic was arrested in Belgrade in 2008 after 13 years on the run.Mr Karadzic was arrested in Belgrade in 2008 after 13 years on the run.
He had been found living in disguise in Belgrade, under a false name and working as a New Age healer.He had been found living in disguise in Belgrade, under a false name and working as a New Age healer.
Mr Mladic was on the run for 16 years before being arrested in 2011 in northern Serbia, where he had also been living under an assumed name.Mr Mladic was on the run for 16 years before being arrested in 2011 in northern Serbia, where he had also been living under an assumed name.
When Bosnia-Hercegovina became an independent state in 1992, Mr Karadzic declared the creation of the independent Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Hercegovina (renamed Republika Srpska) with its capital in Pale, a suburb of Sarajevo, and himself as head of state.When Bosnia-Hercegovina became an independent state in 1992, Mr Karadzic declared the creation of the independent Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Hercegovina (renamed Republika Srpska) with its capital in Pale, a suburb of Sarajevo, and himself as head of state.
His party, supported by Serbian then-President Slobodan Milosevic, organised Serbs to fight against the Bosniaks and Croats in Bosnia.His party, supported by Serbian then-President Slobodan Milosevic, organised Serbs to fight against the Bosniaks and Croats in Bosnia.
A vicious war ensued, in which Serbs besieged Sarajevo for 44 months, shelling Muslim forces but also terrorising the civilian population with relentless bombardment and sniper fire. Thousands of civilians died, many of them deliberately targeted.A vicious war ensued, in which Serbs besieged Sarajevo for 44 months, shelling Muslim forces but also terrorising the civilian population with relentless bombardment and sniper fire. Thousands of civilians died, many of them deliberately targeted.
Bosnian Serb forces - assisted by paramilitaries from Serbia proper - also expelled hundreds of thousands of Muslims and Croats from their homes in a brutal campaign of "ethnic cleansing".Bosnian Serb forces - assisted by paramilitaries from Serbia proper - also expelled hundreds of thousands of Muslims and Croats from their homes in a brutal campaign of "ethnic cleansing".