RADOVAN Karadzic is hidden from view in this helicopter waiting to take the former Bosnian Serb leader from Rotterdam to The Hague yesterday. But today he will finally be fully under public scrutiny as he faces a UN war crimes tribunal charged with genocide in the 1992-95 Bosnia war.

By Vesna Peric Zimonjic Radovan Karadzic, one of the world's most wanted fugitives, makes his long-awaited first court appearance today following a dead-of- night secret transfer to a UN jail cell in The Hague.

By Vesna Peric Zimonjic Police battled hardline Serbian nationalists on the streets of Belgrade last night after a demonstration protesting against the planned extradition of the former Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan Karadzic.

Seven ethnic Serbs were given prison sentences of up to 42 years in prison Tuesday for participating in the massacre of Bosnian Muslims at Srebenica. A panel of Bosnian, Dutch and U.S. judges convicted the seven after a two-year trial. Four defendants were acquitted, The Times of London reported.

Text of report by Serbian pro-government broadsheet Politika, on 24 July [Commentary by Slobodan Antonic: "After Oric and Haradinaj"] Radovan Karadzic's arrest was celebrated not only on the streets of Belgrade. It was openly celebrated in some of the Belgrade media as well.