Nov 5, 2009, 13:56 GMT
The Hague - The war crimes tribunal in The Hague said Thursday it has appointed an attorney for Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, and adjourned the trial until March 1.
Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic appears in the courtroom of the the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) War Crimes tribunal in the Hague, Netherlands, 03 November 2009. Karadzic, 64, has denied all 11 war crimes charges brought against him over the 1992-95 Bosnian war, including two genocide charges -- for the massacre of 8,000 Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica and for broader atrocities. EPA/MICHAEL KOOREN / POOL
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) said it took the decision in order to prevent further delays of the trial caused by Karadzic's refusal to attend the hearings.
The former psychiatrist, who is representing himself at the UN- sponsored tribunal, claims he was not given enough time to prepare himself. His repeated requests for a postponement were denied.
In its decision, the ICTY requested the court registrar to appoint an attorney who 'will immediately begin to prepare himself or herself to represent the interests of the Accused.'
The trial is to be adjourned until March 1, the court said, and in the meantime the former Bosnian Serb leader would continue to represent himself.
Karadzic, 64, faces 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including two counts of genocide for acts allegedly committed during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War.
He refused to attend the trial that opened last week, but on Tuesday appeared for the first time when the court held a 'status conference' to discuss how to proceed.
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