The medical reports show that the accused is no longer fit to defend himself. The court is of the view that the right of the accused to defend himself on his own is not absolute and that it is based on the right to legal assistance, presiding judge Patrick Robinson said.
Milosevic, who has conducted his defence on his own since the start of the trial in February 2002, strongly opposed the decision, calling it "scandalous".
"You cannot deny me the right to defend myself," Milosevic said, announcing that he would appeal. "I want the Appeals Chamber to consider your decision which is illegal," he said, adding that the decision was in violation of international law and all existing human rights conventions.
The chief prosecutor in the case, Geoffrey Nice, welcomed the decision by the trial chamber, underlining that the conduct of defence and the choice of witnesses must be fully at the discretion of the court-appointed defence attorney.
Nice said the most convenient choice for defence counsel would be one of the amici curiae, or friends of the court, who have been following the trial almost since its inception. He also proposed that the accused be given seven days to take a lawyer of his own choosing.
Milosevic, 63, is charged with genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina and crimes against humanity and war crimes in Croatia and Kosovo. His trial has been interrupted a dozen times due to his high blood pressure, heart problems and exhaustion. Since the delays have upset the schedule of the proceedings, the prosecution has proposed that a defence lawyer be imposed on the accused.