Barefaced and boastful, former Bosnian Serb leader in dock

The former Bosnian Serb leader, who is representing himself at the UN tribunal in The Hague, was formally accused of mass killing.

Asked by the presiding judge, Dutch-born Alphons Orie, if he wanted relatives informed that he was at the court, he smirked as he replied: "I don't believe that there is anyone that does not know I am in the detention unit."

It is the first time the alleged war criminal, 63, has been seen in public since he was captured on a Belgrade bus posing as a healer after 11 years on the run.

Gaunter than he had been in the past, he has lost the long white beard which he had used to hide his identity, and had his trademark bouffant hair cut shorter.

Karadzic was charged with 11 counts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Today he described himself as a "national of Bosnia Herzegovina, Republica Srpska, Montenegro, and Serbia". He waived the opportunity to have his rights explained at length In Sarajevo a live link to the tribunal was set up to let Bosnians - including the mothers of some of the 8,000 Muslims massacred at Srebenica - watch the proceedings.

The slaughter was the worst atrocity in Europe since the Second World War. In Belgrade, Karadzic's lawyer said his client will go on hunger strike if he is not allowed to defend himself.

Svetozar Vujacic said: "It is his basic right to defend himself."

Mr Vujacic is part of a legal team that plans to advise Karadzic outside the court.

The former Bosnian leader refused to enter a plea, saying in a show of defiance that the indictment had "numerous irregularities".

"I wish to inform you of the numerous irregularities to do with my appearance here," he said.

Karadzic's lawyer has said he believes he will be cleared of genocide. Earlier this week relatives also said he was in good spirits and preparing his defence.

Chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz said he would conduct the trial efficiently. "Of course it will take some months before the prosecution and defence will be ready to start. It will be a complex trial but we are fully aware of the importance of being efficient," he said.

Karadzic sat impassively in the dock sipping from a plastic up of water.

It was markedly unlike the forceful display by former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic in the same court room, but suggested that Karadzic may be more formidable in using court procedure to further his case.

Karadzic's delivery to The Hague was key to Serbia securing closer ties with the European Union and his arrest was seen as a pro-Western signal by the new government sworn in this month.