Amsterdam - Former Bosnian-Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has requested the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Monday to hold a special hearing to determine the court's jurisdiction, amid claims that Karadzic had been promised immunity by the US.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday at the ICTY premises, Karadzic's legal advisor Patrick Robinson said that in 1996 special UN and US envoy Richard Holbrooke had promised his client immunity from prosecution stemming from atrocities during the 1990s Balkan Wars.

In exchange for immunity, Karadzic allegedly agreed to remain out of the public eye after the end of the Balkan War.

Robinson said his 140-page request, which he transferred to the ICTY on Monday, contained "many testimonials" substantiating his clients' claim that such an immunity deal was made.

Karadzic has repeatedly referred to a deal with Holbrooke and claimed that he is therefore safe from prosecution by the ICTY.

Holbrooke, who is now the US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, has always denied such a deal ever existed.

The ICTY, which declined to comment on the upcoming press conference, says the existence of an agreement on Karadzic's immunity is "irrelevant" to its ongoing case.

Karadzic was arrested in Serbia in July 2008 and is currently standing trial at the ICTY on charges of war crimes relating to the wars in Bosnia-Herzegovina after the break-up of Yugoslavia.(dpa)