Hague: Ex-Bosnian Serb army head Ratko Mladic has made his first appearance at The Hague war crimes tribunal, but said he would not enter a plea to the “monstrous” and “obnoxious” charges. He is charged with crimes in the 1992-95 Bosnian war, including the massacre of about 7,500 people in Srebrenica.
Gen Mladic told the court he had been “defending my people and my country”.
He also said he was “gravely ill”, but a court spokeswoman said health checks had shown he was fit to stand trial.
Nerma Jelacic said a variety of tests had been done on Gen Mladic since he arrived at The Hague, but none had turned up any health issues to cause concern.
Gen Mladic, who was arrested last week in Serbia, is charged with genocide, persecution, extermination, murder, deportation, inhumane acts, terror, deportation and hostage-taking, according to the tribunal indictment.
Prosecutors say this was his part in a plot to achieve the “elimination or permanent removal” of Muslims from large parts of Bosnia in pursuit of a Greater Serbia.
In his first hearing before the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Gen Mladic, 69, was asked if he could understand the proceedings and he confirmed that he could.
He gave his name and date of birth, although the date was different from the court records.
Court-appointed Serbian lawyer Aleksandar Aleksic represented Gen Mladic at the hearing. Gen Mladic may choose a permanent counsel for the trial later, or opt to conduct his own defence.
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