Lawyers for the former Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan Karadzic, have filed papers arguing that all charges against him should be dropped. They say US diplomat Richard Holbrooke promised him immunity from prosecution on condition he gave up politics -- something Mr Holbrooke strongly denies.
| If it isn't in writing and notarized than it's tough luck for Radovan ... |
Mr Karadzic is on trial at the UN tribunal in The Hague, facing 11 charges including genocide. The tribunal has said that any immunity deal would not be binding. The tribunal says even if a deal had been agreed, the trial would proceed anyway.
Mr Karadzic's lawyers filed a motion of more than 100 pages, demanding the court hold a special hearing to establish the truth of his claims.
CHARGES AGAINST KARADZIC
- Eleven counts of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other atrocities
- Charged over shelling Sarajevo during the city's siege, in which some 12,000 civilians died
- Allegedly organised the massacre of up to 8,000 Bosniak men and youths in Srebrenica
- Targeted Bosniak and Croat political leaders, intellectuals and professionals
- Unlawfully deported and transferred civilians because of national or religious identity
- Destroyed homes, businesses and sacred sites
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