Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic appeared at his trial in The Hague on genocide and war crimes for the first time. The prosecutors say he was determined to ethnically cleanse Bosnia, and must be held responsible for the massacre after the fall of the Muslim enclave of Srebrenica in 1995.

Mr Karadzic stayed away from the UN Tribunal when his case began last week, saying he needed more time to prepare his defence.

Mr Karadzic is representing himself and Judge Kwon O-gon said the court would consider imposing a lawyer to represent him if he failed to attend the trial. His advisors, however, say that assigning a lawyer at this late stage will only delay the trial even more.

Proceedings resumed on Monday and Mr Karadzic took his place at a proceedural hearing on Tuesday afternoon.

He is generally expected to repeat his demand for more time to prepare for the trial.