Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

The trial of Radovan Karadzic for genocide and war crimes has resumed in the Hague in his absence.

The former Bosnian Serb leader is boycotting proceedings, saying he needs more time to prepare his defence, but the International Criminal Court on Tuesday ruled the trial could begin without him.

In opening remarks, prosecutors described him as the "supreme commander" of a campaign of ethnic cleansing.

Radovan Karadzic, 64, faces 11 charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, relating to the Bosnian war of the 1990s. He denies all the charges.

The BBC reports the prosecution has begun to deliver its opening argument, which is expected to take two days.