Amsterdam - The International Criminal Tribunal for Former
Yugoslavia (ICTY) has named judges Patrick Robinson (Jamaica), Iain
Bonomy (Britain) and Michele Picard (France) to preside over pre- trial
proceedings in the case against former Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, it
was revealed Friday.

Robinson released the information on behalf of the ICTY. The
judges' assignment deals strictly with the pre-trial proceedings. It
may take many months until the actual trial against Karadzic starts.

On Thursday, ICTY president Judge Fausto Pocar announced trial
chamber 3 had replaced trial chamber 1 in the case against the former
Serb leader.

The tribunal explained the change as "a better redivision of the work load."

The reassignment of the case meant that the case would no longer be
dealt with by Dutch judge Alphons Orie. On Tuesday, Karadzic had filed
a motion to the ICTY claiming that Orie was not suitable to preside
over the case. The motion requested a new judge.

Karadzic argued that Orie would not be neutral, as he had already
sentenced one of his close assistants in the Balkan War, Momcilo
Krajisnik.

On August 29, Karadzic is due to appear before the ICTY again, to
enter a guilty or innocent plea to the charges brought against him. (dpa)