Hague tribunal rejects Karadzic claim

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, July 8 (UPI) -- Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic's claim he is immune from war crimes prosecution doesn't hold water, an international tribunal says.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia at The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday rejected Karadzic's claims an immunity deal he allegedly made with former U.S. peace envoy Richard Holbrooke shielded him from genocide prosecution, the BBC reported.

Holbrooke denies making any deals with Karadzic, reportedly calling his claims "laughable" and "a lie," and the tribunal ruled that even if such a promise was made it would not have legal legitimacy, the broadcaster reported.

Karadzic, 64, is facing 11 charges, including genocide, leveled by the tribunal. Prosecutors say he organized the massacre of innocent Bosnian civilians at Srebrenica in 1995, among other alleged acts.