Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has boycotted the start of his war crimes trial in the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, refusing to appear in court.
The trial opened in The Hague this morning of the former Bosnian Serb leader who is facing charges of crimes against humanity.
It was adjourned after just 20 minutes because of Mr Karadzic's refusal to appear.
As the trial opened the prosecution submitted to the three judge panel that the trial should proceed.
Counsel for the prosecution, Hildegaard Uertz-Retzlaff, said that Mr Karadzic's refusal to attend the trial was disruptive and that it substantially frustrated proceedings.
She said the court should assign counsel to Mr Karadzic, who has pledged to represent himself in court.
Presiding Judge O-Gon Kwon said the court would adjourn until tomorrow afternoon when the prosecution would be entitled to begin outlining their case against Mr Karadzic.
Mr Karadzic was arrested in Belgrade in July last year after 13 years on the run.
However Mr Karadzic, who is conducting his own defence, has said that he would boycott the opening, because he claims he has not been given enough time to prepare for the case.
He faces charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the Bosnian war in the 1990s, which claimed about 100,000 lives.
He has denied all charges.
