Abstract. Let (H, σ) be a coquasitriangular Hopf algebra, not necessarily finite dimensional. Following methods of Doi and Takeuchi, which parallel the constructions of Radford in the case of finite dimensional quasitriangular Hopf algebras, we define Hσ, a sub-Hopf algebra of H 0 , the finite dual of H. Using the generalized quantum double construction and the theory of Hopf algebras with a projection, we associate to H a braided Hopf algebra structure in the category of Yetter-Drinfeld modules over H cop σ . Specializing to H = SLq(N ), we obtain explicit formulas which endow SLq(N ) with a braided Hopf algebra structure within the category of left Yetter-Drinfeld modules over U ext q (sl N ) cop .