The flowing beard which disguises him during more than 10 years on the run was shaved off and his pony-tailed hair cut.

His lawyer Sveta Vujacic said yesterday: "He looks like new, exactly the same, only 14 years older."

Karadzic went on the run in 1998. More details emerged of Karadzic's secret life in Belgrade including a mistress, a bogus family he claimed he left behind in the United States, the false name Dragan Dabic, and frequent visits to a bar called The Madhouse.

The former Bosnian Serb leader – arrested on Monday on United Nations genocide charges – had a girlfriend he presented as an associate at the alternative medicine clinic he owned, according to Zoran Pavlovic, who was hired by Karadzic to set up a website for it.

Mr Pavlovic also said he visited Karadzic's flat in New Belgrade and saw a framed photograph of four boys whom Karadzic said were grandsons living in America.

Misko Kovijanic, who owns the bar in New Belgrade, said Karadzic was a regular who liked to drink red wine there and enjoy the decor which includes photos of Karadzic and fellow war crimes fugitive Ratko Maldic.

"I'm very proud that he came to my pub, and I'm very sad that he was arrested," Mr Kovijanic said.

Karadzic will be handed over to the UN war crimes tribunal at some time in the next week, officials said. His lawyer said he intends to defend himself there just like his mentor, former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

Bruno Vekaric, spokesman for Serbia's war crimes prosecutor, said Karadzic's extradition "could be Monday or Tuesday - but it could be earlier, too."

Karadzic's lawyer also said he intends to defend himself with the help of a team of legal advisers, just like Milosevic did. Milosevic died in 2006 while on trial in The Hague.

"He can't wait to appear before the court," Mr Vujacic said.

Karadzic is expected to appear next week at a hearing, where he will be asked to enter pleas to 11 charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Karadzic has 30 days after his transfer to enter the pleas. If he refuses, judges will automatically enter not guilty pleas on his behalf.

The arrest of Karadzic was hailed by European governments who applauded Serbia's new pro-Western leadership.

But in Belgrade, Serbian nationalists lashed out. Dozens took to the streets on Tuesday, clashing with police.

Chanting "Treason!," the demonstrators threw stones at riot police who cordoned them off. Five demonstrators and a policeman were injured.

"This is a hard day for Serbia," said Tomislav Nikolic, leader of the ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party.

Serb officials said they arrested Karadzic on Monday evening near Belgrade."

The arrest appeared to be the result of a change in political will. Serbian President Boris Tadic's pro-Western government came to power only two weeks ago and appointed a new security chief.

More than 100,000 people died during Bosnia's 1992-1995 war.