Karadzic trial adjourned pending new appeal (Extra)

Mar 2, 2010, 13:00 GMT

The Hague - Radovan Karadzic obtained a fresh delay in his genocide and war crimes trial Tuesday after judges in the Hague asked an appeal court to consider his request to be granted more time to prepare his defence.

The ruling by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) means that the prosecution will be unable to start examining witnesses as of Wednesday, as planned.

Karadzic's defence team had earlier asked the court permission to appeal against Friday's decision by judges not to grant him more time to prepare his defence as he faces 11 counts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with his role during the 1990s Bosnian war.

While regretting any 'inconvenience' caused to witnesses on their way to the Hague, judges said it was in 'the interest of justice' to adjourn the trial so as to allow Karadzic's request to be considered.

The former Bosnian Serb leader had boycotted the trial's opening hearings, in October, and then obtained a four-month suspension as he worked on his defence from his prison cell in the Dutch capital.