Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has made his first appearance at the United Nations war crimes tribunal in The Hague.

The 63-year-old faces 11 charges, including two of genocide, for allegedly masterminding atrocities during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war, including the 1995 massacre of 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the Bosnian city of Srebrenica.

Karadzic said he would like more time to study genocide charges against him before entering a plea.

Under court rules he is allowed 30 days to decide how to plead. If he refuses to enter a plea then, a plea of 'not guilty' is entered for him.

Karadzic, who appeared clean shaven in the dock, was arrested last week after 11 years on the run. He spent his first night in a cell at the UN war crimes tribunal detention centre after being flown to the Netherlands on Wednesday morning.

Just like former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, who died in custody in 2006 months before a verdict was due in his four-year trial, Karadzic has said he wishes to defend himself, a move which could protract the proceedings.

"You are Radovan Karadzic, aren't you?" he was asked by Judge Alphons Orie. "Yes I am," he answered.

The Judge noted Karadzic was alone. Smiling, the suspect replied: "I have an invisible adviser but I have decided to represent myself."

Karadzic said his arrest was illegal: "In Belgrade I was arrested irregularly, I was held kidnapped for three days... I had no right to a telephone call or even an SMS."

And he also attacked former US Bosnian peace mediator Richard Holbrooke: "If Holbrooke wants my death and regrets there is no death sentence at this court, I want to know if his arm is long enough to reach me here."

Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz said he would conduct the trial efficiently, learning from the Milosevic case. He said: "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."

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.

In Srebrenica, residents are still digesting the news of Karadzic's extradition to the Netherlands.

Hatidza Mehmedovic, a mother of a Srebrenica victim, said Karadzic's "genocidal project lives on" in the town. She said: "Look at all the graves of Srebrenica, look at all the massacres. His ideas still live on and on.

"We need to bring the project down, and than we can feel some justice."

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