Radovan Karadzic, who is acting as his own attorney, attended an administrative hearing on Tuesday to explain why he needs more time to prepare his defense against 11 war crimes charges, including genocide, related to his actions during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war.

He told the court that he had encountered "nothing but obstacles from the very beginning," but he had worked day and night and "invested an inhuman effort" in his defense. He would be ready to appear some time within the next 10 months, and would give the court around two weeks notice.

Arguments repeated

The presiding judge, O-Gon Kwon, noted that Karadzic had merely repeated the arguments he had made before. The prosecution called once more for the court to appoint a lawyer to defend him in court. Although Karadzic is leading his own defense, he is supported by a team of lawyers.

Karadzic refused to attend the first three days of hearings on the grounds that he was not yet ready, and the court has continued its proceedings in his absence. Kwon ruled then that Karadzic's absence was considered a "voluntary waiver of his right to attend the trial." He said that the right of a defendant to appear at his trial was "not absolute."

Kwon promised a "decision on this matter in writing later this week." He cancelled a hearing which had been set for Wednesday in which the first witnesses were to have been heard.

mll/Reuters/AFP/dpa
Editor: Nancy Isenson