Mladic trial delayed

The trial of former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic is halted because of a prosecution error.

Presiding judge Alphons Orie said judges were indefinitely suspending the presentation of evidence because prosecutors had not disclosed their case properly.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDING JUDGE, ALPHONS ORIE, SAYING (AUDIO GOES OVER SHOTS OF MLADIC AND ORIE):

"The Chamber is still in the process of gathering information as the scope and the full impact of this error. The Chamber aims to announce the start date for the presentation of the prosecution's evidence as soon as possible."

Orie did not say whether he would grant the full 6-month delay requested by the defence but evidence will no longer be presented on May 29 as planned.

The decision was announced at the end of the second day of the genocide trial in which prosecutors focused on the 1995 Srebrenica massacre - and Mladics' criminal responsibility for it.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) PROSECUTING LAWYER, PETER MCCLOSKEY, SAYING:

" The evidence of this crime is overwhelming and unassailable. In brief, of the over 7,000 men and boys murdered, 5,977 have been exhumed from Srebrenica related mass graves"

Among the evidence presented was a video showing Mladic addressing a bus full of Bosnian Muslims.

SECOND COURT VIDEO SHOWING RATKO MLADIC ENTERING SECOND BUS WITH BOSNIAN MUSLIMS, SPEAKING IN SERBIAN, SAYING: "I am general Mladic. There are able-bodied people among you who shot at me before. I forgive you all and am giving you your life as a present. Don't come before me at the frontline. Next time there won't be any forgiveness."

The 70-year-old listened with his back to the public after being warned for making a throat-slitting gesture to the relative of a Srebenica victim on Wednesday.

If found guilty of charges including murder, rape, acts of terror and genocide, he faces a sentence of up to life imprisonment.

Sunita Rappai, Reuters