The UN war crimes tribunal has again halted the trial of Slobodan Milosevic while it waits for medical reports on the former Yugoslav president's health.
The trial has been adjourned until Tuesday November 29 pending further health reports, the court said in a statement today.
In its decision the trial chamber said that the medical officer of the tribunal, Paulus Falke, recommended Milosevic not attend court this week because of high blood pressure.
By Friday the court expects a report by Paul van Dijkman, a cardiologist appointed by the tribunal.
Presiding judge Patrick Robinson had adjourned the court session last Wednesday to have Milosevic examined by a court doctor after he complained of an ear ache and a headache.
Last week Milosevic asked judges to grant him a six-week break, citing a medical report by three doctors of his own who examined him earlier this month.
Proceedings are limited to three days a week to make it easier on Milosevic, who has refused legal help and is defending himself on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity during the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
Prosecutor Geoffrey Nice has suggested that the trial could continue with lawyers representing Milosevic in his absence.
The UN tribunal assigned two lawyers to Milosevic last year to prevent more delays, but he later won back his right to lead his own defence.
The 64-year-old reiterated last week that he would not accept the hearing of witnesses in his absence.
Milosevic's heart problems, high blood pressure and bouts of flu have regularly stalled the marathon trial, which started in February 2002 and which judges had hoped to complete next year.