MILOSEVIC QUESTIONS LEGALITY OF ICTY AGAIN

THE HAGUE, Feb 13 (Hina) - The presiding judge of the Trial Chamber trying former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, Richard May, on Wednesday once again dismissed Milosevic's repeated attempts to contest the legality of the international wear crimes tribunal and the legality of his arrest in Belgrade. Your view of the tribunal is now completely irrelevant, May told Milosevic after he was granted the right to speak following an opening statement by prosecutor Geoffrey Nice. Milosevic decided to warn the Trial Chamber once again that it failed to respond to his claims about the illegality of the tribunal and hold a hearing about the legality of his apprehension. He described his arrest as a Belgrade crime in which a tribunal representative participated. The tribunal has already voiced its opinion and made decisions on this matter, May said, adding that Milosevic could have lodged an appeal against the decisions, if only he had bothered to read them. Milosevic also used his opportunity to speak to the Trial Chamber to reiterate his claims about the bias of the prosecution which he accused of already having proclaimed him guilty and leading a media campaign against him, which he described as a parallel lynch. Milosevic requested that he begin his opening statement on Thursday morning. (hina) lml sb