Karadzic Tells Court Serbian Cause Was "Just and Holy," Muslims' Course "Inevitably Led to War"

The RIA Novosti website reports that former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, 64, said at his trial in The Hague today (March 1, 2010) that the Serbian cause in the Bosnian War was "just and holy" and that the Bosnian Muslims took a course that "inevitably led to war."

"The Muslim leadership strictly stuck to this solution which could only lead to war. And this solution was sovereign and independent Bosnia 100 percent," Karadzic said addressing the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague.

"I stand before you not to defend the mere mortal that I am, but to defend the greatness of a small nation in Bosnia and Herzegovina which for 500 years has had to suffer and has demonstrated a great deal of modesty and perseverance to survive in freedom," he said.

The trial of Karadzic -- known as the "Butcher of Bosnia" -- resumed on March 1, 2010, after a four-month suspension. Karadzic is accused of war crimes and genocide dating from the 1992-95 Bosnian War, but insists he is innocent of all charges brought against him.