The Hague -- Wartime Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic on Tuesday made his first court appearance since the start of his genocide trial, stubbornly insisting on a further delay.

Wearing a black suit, pink shirt and red tie, Karadzic took his place in the accused dock of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for a procedural hearing to consider options for continuing the trial in the face of his defiance.

"I don't want to boycott these proceedings but I cannot take part in something that has been bad from the start or where my fundamental rights have been violated," he told the judges and he demanded more time to prepare.

"The situation is such that I would really be a criminal if I were to accept these conditions -- to enter into a trial and proceedings for which I am not prepared."

Karadzic, who denies all the charges against him, could be jailed for life if convicted. He was arrested on a Belgrade bus last July after 13 years on the run, and has decided to conduct his own defence.

He has refused to leave his jail cell since the trial started on October 26, saying he needs more time to review 1.3 million pages of prosecution evidence and the statements of hundreds of witnesses.

"I have given up my walks in the fresh air," working day and night to prepare for the case, said Karadzic.

He is charged with 11 counts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the 1992-95 Bosnian war that claimed some 100,000 lives and caused 2.2 million people to flee their homes.

The court had found on more than one occasion that Karadzic had had enough time to prepare, said presiding judge O-Gon Kwon.

"It is the trial chamber, not an accused person which determines readiness for trial," said the judge. "It is in your best interest to attend and participate fully in the trial so that justice can be done."

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