UN Court Rejects Karadzic's Appeal For Delay Of Trial

Radovan Karadzic on trial at The Hague

A UN war crimes tribunal today rejected an appeal by former Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic to postpone his genocide trial.

The appeals chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague upheld the decision of the trial court, which said it would carry on with hearings even if Karadzic boycotts the court sessions.

Karadzic refused to attend some of the hearings, saying he had not been given enough time to prepare.

He has been charged by the UN court with genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity stemming from Bosnia's 1992-95 war.

Karadzic has pleaded not guilty.

The date of his next hearing has been fixed for April 13.

compiled from agency reports