'Not Guilty' Plea for Uncooperative Karadzic

Former Bosnian Serb leader refuses to recognize court on war-crimes charges
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 29, 2008 9:15 AM CDT
'Not Guilty' Plea for Uncooperative Karadzic
Radovan Karadzic in April 1996, in an undated photo released Tuesday July 22, 2008, and appearing in the courtroom July 31, 2008.   (AP Photo)

Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic refused to plead today at a UN war-crimes tribunal—so a judge entered a “not guilty” plea for him, the BBC reports. Karadzic, 63, was charged with 11 counts linked to the Bosnian civil war of the 1990s, including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. He called the tribunal “a court of NATO” seeking his “liquidation.”

After the judge entered the plea, Karadzic asked if he could hold him to his word “that I am not guilty.” Karadzic is facing the tribunal for allowing the killing of thousands of civilians and the shelling of Sarajevo. He says there is a conspiracy against him and successfully pushed for the removal of a judge he said was biased. (More Radovan Karadzic stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X