Dutch watch case against Fortuyn suspect on live TV

Dutch prosecutors have outlined the most extensive evidence so far against the man charged with assassinating the flamboyant Dutch far-right politician Pim Fortuyn.

In the first live broadcast of court proceedings in the Netherlands, Koos Ploy, for the prosecution, said Volkert van der Graaf was arrested carrying a loaded gun spattered with the murdered politician's blood.

He also disclosed that police found chemicals that could be used for making bombs at the home of the vegan animal rights activist. All the evidence, he said, led "to the conclusion that it was the suspect himself who shot Fortuyn from close range and no one else".

The killing of Fortuyn on 6 May, only days before general elections, shocked the country and provoked an outpouring of grief for the anti-immigrant politician. His party, Lijst Pim Fortuyn, won second place in the election in a dramatic swing to the right on sympathy votes but has been struggling since.

Only this week, its new leader, Mat Herben, announced that he was standing down, saying he took the post under great pressure. His resignation heightened fears that the party's instability could damage the coalition government led by Jan-Peter Balkenende, the Christian Democrat Prime Minister, and the liberal VVD party.

Fortuyn supporters stood outside the court yesterday holding placards in memory of the former sociology lecturer. Fortuyn had claimed he was fated to become the first openly gay Dutch prime minister.

In yesterday's pre-trial proceedings, the prosecution asked the three-judge tribunal to extend Mr van der Graaf's detention for up to three months to allow more time for prosecution inquiries because they wanted to establish whether anyone else had a role in planning the assassination.

After the shooting, three witnesses pursued the accused man, who was kept in sight until he was wrestled to the ground by police moments later in a petrol station. The murder weapon was found in his pocket. Traces of gunpowder on latex gloves worn by Mr van der Graaf and a box of bullets similar to those in the gun were found in his home. Maps of the politician's neighbourhood, a plan of the park where he was slain and details of Mr Fortuyn's appointments and public appearances downloaded from the politician's website were found in his car.

Mr van der Graaf, in his 29th day of a hunger strike, exercised his right not to attend the hearing but watched the proceedings on a live video link to his cell. He has remained silent since his arrest.

His lawyer, Steijn Franken, told the judges that his client's hunger strike was not " a form of blackmail" but a genuine protest against the unprecedented harsh conditions in which he was being detained. Up until recently, Mr van der Graaf's cell was permanently lit and officials, fearful that he might kill himself, continue to monitor him around the clock.

In statements issued through his lawyers, Mr van der Graaf claimed deprivation of sleep caused by the bright lights was an attempt to break him and force him to make a statement. Although eating no food, he is accepting water and sugary drinks.

The judges agreed to extend his detention without bail until the inquiry was finished or for up to three months. They denied a request to summon Dutch political leaders to testify on their pretrial remarks, which the defence argued was prejudicial to its case.