Ratko Mladic makes his first appearance at the ITCY

On 3 June 2011, Ratko Mladic, the former commander of the Bosnian Serb army, made his first appearance at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. It is alleged that Mladic, who has been charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws and customs of war, is responsible for the massacre of thousands of Muslim boys and men in Srebrenica in 1995.

At the initial appearance, Mladic stated that he "did not want to hear a single letter or sentence of [the] indictment". He also refused to enter a plea, electing to postpone his decision for 30 days in order to study the indictment and circumstances surrounding the trial. If Mladic refuses to enter a plea at the second appearance - which is scheduled for 4 July 2011 - the Court will enter a not-guilty plea on his behalf.

For more information:

Steven Kay QC interview on BBC News:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/impact_asia/9498863.stm

Toby Cadman interview on BBC Scotland:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgGkW3-ZeZQ

ICTY Video footage of first appearance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TsS0c-HdDZg

Prosecution's second amended indictment:
http://www.icty.org/x/cases/mladic/ind/en/110601.pdf

Press articles:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13637780
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/03/ratko-mladic-war-crimes-court