THE NETHERLANDS: Slobodan Milosevic's war crimes trial has been delayed again due to the former Yugoslav president's high blood pressure as he tries to prepare his own defence, the Hague tribunal has said.
Mr Milosevic (62) was due to open his much-delayed defence on Monday against charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes during the 1990s break-up of Yugoslavia, but his doctor said he was not well enough to attend the hearing. The trial has been adjourned until August 31st.
A tribunal spokesman said: "The chamber considered the medical report from his doctor that said on the basis of the blood pressure values of the accused, he should not attend the hearing."
Mr Milosevic, who is defending himself, appeared in court last week for a hearing to discuss how to proceed with a trial which started in February 2002 and has been repeatedly interrupted by his ill health.
A lawyer appointed to ensure Mr Milosevic gets a fair trial questioned whether the case could continue but the trial's three judges declared him fit enough to proceed although they said they might impose a defence lawyer on him.
The court has asked an independent cardiologist to assess whether Mr Milosevic is well enough to continue defending himself, noting 66 trial days have been lost due to his ill health, but it could be several weeks before a decision is taken on that matter, the UN tribunal spokesman said.
Mr Milosevic has said he would never agree to the imposition of a defence counsel in the case widely regarded as Europe's most important war crimes trial since top Nazis were tried at Nuremberg after the second World War.
The court heard last week that Mr Milosevic suffers from high blood pressure especially when under stress as well as damage to his heart, with doctors recommending regular rest.
Since the prosecution wrapped up its case in February after calling about 290 witnesses, Mr Milosevic has been working on his defence from the tribunal's detention centre. A graduate of the Belgrade Law Faculty, he wants to summon more than 1,000 witnesses, including the former US president, Mr Bill Clinton, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, in the 150 working days allotted for his defence.