The United Nations war crimes tribunal at The Hague has denied a request to delay the trial of ex-Bosnian Serb wartime commander Ratko Mladic, who is accused of genocide against non-Serbs in the Bosnian conflict of 1992-95.
Judges ruled on May 4 that the trial will start as previously scheduled on May 16.
Mladic's lawyer had asked for a 90-day delay, saying the defense needed more time to study material submitted by prosecutors and arguing that the material had been provided too late.
The three-judge panel did not immediately elaborate on why the request was denied.
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has charged Mladic with 11 counts of genocide and war crimes, including over the 1995 massacre of up to 8,000 Muslim males at Srebrenica.
Judges ruled on May 4 that the trial will start as previously scheduled on May 16.
Mladic's lawyer had asked for a 90-day delay, saying the defense needed more time to study material submitted by prosecutors and arguing that the material had been provided too late.
The three-judge panel did not immediately elaborate on why the request was denied.
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has charged Mladic with 11 counts of genocide and war crimes, including over the 1995 massacre of up to 8,000 Muslim males at Srebrenica.
