Mladic removed from UN courtroom

Ex-Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic has been removed from a UN courtroom at the Hague this morning.

He refused to cooperate with the judge, shouting angrily that he did not want to be there without his lawyer.

Presiding judge Alphons Orie warned Mladic several times not to interrupt him as Mladic defiantly argued he should be allowed to choose his own lawyers.

Shortly before guards escorted Mladic from court, he shouted at the judge: “You want to impose my defence, what kind of a court are you?”

After a brief break, Orie resumed the hearing and entered the not guilty pleas on Mladic’s behalf.

There had been fears that Mladic would boycott the hearing.

He is being charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.