Karadzic appeal confirmed

Radovan Karadzic, former leader of the Bosnian Serbs, has launched an appeal against his extradition to The Hague, his brother Luka has confirmed. Luka Karadzic visited his brother in prison in Belgrade on Sunday. Asked afterwards by reporters if his brother's defence team planned to appeal, he replied: "Of course we will."

It is thought that Radovan Karadzic's lawyer posted the appeal from a remote post office in Serbia on Friday, in order to delay the process. Under Serb law, all Karadzic needs is proof the appeal was posted before the Friday deadline, and the court must simply wait for it to arrive. Then a Serbian panel of judges will have three days to consider the merits of the appeal - so it is thought unlikely that Karadzic will reach The Hague before wednesday.

Radovan Karadzic was arrested in Belgrade one week ago after 13 years as a fugitive, and now faces genocide charges at the International Criminal Court. It has been alleged that his nephew - Luka's son Dragan - was instrumental in helping him escape capture and live under an assumed identity.