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Karadzic could be handed over to war crimes tribunal soon

Genocide suspect Radovan Karad­zic will be handed over to the UN war crimes tribunal sometime in the next week and his lawyer says Karadzic intends to defend himself there just like his mentor, former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic.

Bruno Vekaric, spokesman for Serbia’s war crimes prosecutor, said the former Bosnian Serb wartime leader’s extradition “could be Monday or Tuesday — but it could be earlier, too.”

“We cannot say precisely when Karadzic will be sent to The Hague tribunal,” he said yesterday.

Karadzic’s lawyer, Sveta Vujacic, says his client would resist extradition.

Vujacic also said Karadzic intended to defend himself during his upcoming trial at the UN tribunal, with the help of a team of legal advisers, just like Milosevic did.

Depending on when he arrives in The Hague, Karadzic is expected to appear next week at a hearing where he will be asked to enter pleas to the 11 charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Karadzic, who was captured on Monday in Serbia after more than a decade on the run, has 30 days after his transfer to enter the pleas. If he refuses, judges will automatically enter not guilty pleas on his behalf.

Also See: Karadzic hid in the open as alternative medicine expert


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