Prosecution wants to hasten Mladic trial

U.N. prosecutors say they want to try Bosnian Serb Gen. Ratko Mladic for the Srebrenica massacre first, and then try him separately on other charges, fearing his health is too fragile for a lengthy all-encompassing court appearance.

Mladic, 69-years old, is charged with genocide for the 1995 killing of more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica. He also faces charges linked to the 4-year Sarajevo siege and for holding U.N. peacekeepers hostage.

He was arrested in Serbia in May after 16 years as a fugitive.

Prosecutors said Wednesday they want to begin the Srebrenica trial quickly, partly because of “the need to plan for the contingency that Mladic’s health could deteriorate.”

Mladic refused to plead at his arraignment. A not-guilty plea was entered by the court.