Karadzic trial postponed until March 2010
09/11/2009
The trial of the former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has been postponed until next year.
It is has been decided by the United Nations war crimes court to delay the proceedings until March 2010 to allow a counsel to be appointed to represent the interests of Mr Karadzic.
"No counsel, not even the most experienced and efficient, could reasonably be expected to be in a position to assist the accused and by extension, the trial process, without sufficient, albeit defined, preparation time," the trial chamber ruled.
The ex-Bosnian Serb leader claims that the war courts are part of a conspiracy against him and refused to enter a plea, as well as planning to defend himself during the trial.
Mr Karadzic is facing a total of 11 war crime and crime against humanity charges related to the Bosnian war during the 1990s and he could be awarded a life time sentence if found guilty.
Meanwhile, Serbia is expected to apply to join the European Union within the next few days.
Written by Simon Bassett. 
