Former Yugoslav president Mr Slobodan Milosevic's war crimes trial has been suspended for the rest of the month because of his ill health, the Hague tribunal said today.
Mr Milosevic, who has suffered from high blood pressure, flu and fatigue since his trial opened in February 2002, is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s.
"The Milosevic trial next week, Monday 29 September to Friday 3 October 2003, has been cancelled due to the ill health of the accused," the UN tribunal said. It did not give details about his condition.
Prosecutors are due to wrap up their case against Mr Milosevic in Europe's biggest international war crimes trial since the end of World War Two by the end of this year.
Mr Milosevic, who says he does not recognise the court and who is defending himself, is set to open his defence in early 2004.
Judges, prosecutors and lawyers appointed by the court to ensure Mr Milosevic gets a fair trial are set next Tuesday to discuss the impact his ill health is having on proceedings.
Prosecutors argued in a written motion earlier this week that Mr Milosevic's recurring ill health was hampering efforts to complete their case. The motion will be discussed in court on Tuesday.