Former Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic refused to enter a plea to genocide and war crimes charges Friday, denouncing the allegations against him as "obnoxious".

On his first appearance before the the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Mladic said he was gravely ill and needed more time to understand the charges, international media reported.

"I need more than a month for these monstrous words that I have never heard of", the ex-general said of the claims, telling Presiding Judge Alphons Orie he would delay entering a plea.

The next court session was scheduled for July 4, by when he will be required to enter pleas on the 11 charges against him.

If he fails to do so, an automatic not-guilty plea will be entered on his behalf.

Mladic stands accused of genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war and crimes against humanity during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia.

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