Ratko Mladic Awaits War Crimes Trial in The Hague

World | June 1, 2011, Wednesday // 07:52|  views

Ratko Mladic, 69, was seized last Thursday in the village of Lazarevo, north of Belgrade, having been on the run for 16 years. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic has spent his first night in UN custody in the Netherlands, awaiting trial on genocide charges, BBC reported.

The 69-year-old was admitted to the detention unit in The Hague on Tuesday and placed in an isolation cell.

He is expected to make his initial court appearance in the next few days.

Upon his arrival, a spokeswoman for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) said tribunal staff handed Gen Mladic his indictment and explained the rules and procedures to him.

He was then placed in an isolation cell for the night - standard practice for new arrivals at the prison.

The 69-year-old was also given a list of defence lawyers who could help him through the initial proceedings of the war crimes court, the spokeswoman said.

He was to be examined by a doctor and receive any treatment he may need before the end of Wednesday.

Gen Mladic has said he does not recognise the authority of the UN tribunal.

When he takes the stand, he will be asked to formally confirm his identity and enter a plea to each of the charges against him.

Gen Mladic is accused of atrocities committed during the Bosnian conflict in the 1990s, including the massacre of about 8,000 Muslims at Srebrenica.

The 69-year-old was seized last Thursday in the village of Lazarevo, north of Belgrade, having been on the run for 16 years.

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Tags: Serbia, Ratko Mladic, war crimes, war crimes tribunal, Hague Tribunal, former Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnian Serbs, Bosnian war

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