The Radovan Karadzic familiar to the world re-emerged on Wednesday as the former Bosnian Serb leader swapped the long hair and flowing beard of his fugitive years for a hair-cut and shave and defiantly said he would mount his own defence at his expected trial for war crimes.

"He looks like his old self, a bit aged," said Svetozar Vujacic, the lawyer acting for Mr Karadzic, who is accused of genocide and crimes against humanity. His client, in a Belgrade prison following his arrest on Monday, also intends to appeal against his extradition - expected next week - to The Hague, home of the UN war crimes tribunal.