MILOSEVIC: CRIMES AGAINST KOSOVO SERBS COMMITTED UNDER AEGIS OF WEST

THE HAGUE, Feb 15 (Hina) - Continuing the presentation of his defence before the Hague war crimes tribunal on Friday, former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic said "Albanian terrorists" were still committing crimes against Kosovo Serbs under the aegis of western powers. Crimes against Kosovo Serbs continue in the presence or close proximity of 50,000 Kosovo Force (KFOR) members, Milosevic said. He enumerated a series of incidents in which he said Albanians killed or shot at Serbs and demolished and plundered their houses without being punished. "Albanian terrorists have expelled 360,000 people with the permission of KFOR and UN police forces," he said. According to Milosevic, the expulsion of Kosovo residents started when Albanian criminals, installed in the province by the international community, headed by Germany, began terrorising local population, thus triggering the destabilisation of Yugoslavia. Milosevic wondered if CNN, which showed the destruction of giant Buddha statues in Afghanistan, would also show footage of Serb Orthodox churches in Kosovo destroyed since the arrival of international forces. "I have not seen any of the 107 destroyed churches in Kosovo and Metohija on CNN," he said. Milosevic announced that he would request that world leaders, such as former US President Bill Clinton, former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the leader of the Senate majority, Bob Dole, German Defence Minister Rudolf Scharping, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the US negotiating team from Dayton testify in the trial. He also wondered how it was possible that he could enjoy wide international support in 1995 or 1996 if a couple of years earlier he had committed genocide which the prosecution charged him with. Milosevic will complete the presentation of defence on Monday. The trial chamber has ruled that the defendant should have the equal amount of time as the prosecution (two days) to present his defence. (hina) sb rml