Radovan Karadzic, who led the Bosnian Serbs through a brutal three-year civil war in the early 1990s, has boycotted the opening of his war crimes trial. Judge O-Gon Kwon noted the absence of Karadzic or of any defence lawyer representing him as the trial began at the The Hague 15 months after Karadzic was captured in Serbia. The prosecution was due to present its case today and tomorrow. Karadzic, who is representing himself, had been scheduled to outline his case next week. He has protested he has not had enough time to prepare his defence. He has asked for an additional 10 months. Last week he sent a letter to the court saying he would not attend the trial until he was ready, and would let the court know several weeks in advance when that would be. Judge O-Gon Kwon adjourned the trial about 15 minutes after it began. He said the case would resume tomorrow with the prosecution's opening statement.