3:40am UK, Wednesday July 23, 2008

The Bosnian war crimes suspect arrested after 13 years living a secret life in disguise will fight his extradition to a UN court in the Netherlands, his lawyer has said.

Karadzic went by the name Dragan Dabic and grew a long beard.

Radovan Karadzic faces 11 UN charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for his actions during Bosnia’s 1992-1995 war.

The psychiatrist-turned Serbian nationalist is accused of masterminding the deadly wartime siege of Sarajevo and the 1995 executions of up to 8,000 Muslim boys and men in Srebrenica.

He has three days to appeal the extradition ruling and will make his objection on the last day – Friday – according to lawyer Sveta Vujacic.

Serb officials arrested the former wartime leader on Monday evening near Belgrade after he had spent more than a decade in hiding.

Karadzic had grown a long, white beard to conceal his identity and had lived freely for months in the capital before being arrested.

“His false identity was very convincing,” said Vladimir Vukcevic, Serbia’s war crimes prosecutor who coordinated the security forces arrest. “He had moved freely in public places.”

While on the run in Serbia, Karadzic – one of the world’s most wanted men – went by the name Dragan Dabic and worked at a private clinic.

Disguised with a long white beard, he even lectured about meditation at a May festival in Belgrade.

The arrest of Karadzic was praised by leaders worldwide, but angered Serb nationalists who skirmished with riot police in Belgrade.

“This is a hard day for Serbia,” Tomislav Nikolic, leader of the ultranationalist Serbian Radical Party said. “(Karadzic was) a legend of the Serbian people.”

Once he is extradited to The Hague court, Karadzic will become the second most important defendant ever at the tribunal custody.

Karadzic’s former Serbian mentor, Slobodan Milosevic also was tried for genocide but died of a heart attack in 2006.