JUDGES REJECT MILOSEVIC'S REQUEST FOR TEMPORARY RELEASE

THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, March 6 (Hina) - The trial chamber of the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague on Wednesday turned down a request by former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic for temporary release. The trial chamber said it was not convinced he would reappear at the trial. The chamber also believes Milosevic might present a danger to victims and witnesses, said its president, Richard May. The British judge said the trial chamber was aware of the difficulties Milosevic had in the preparation of his defence, but added the right to defence could be exercised differently. Milosevic contests the legality of the Hague tribunal and refuses to appoint his own attorneys. The trial resumed today after being adjourned on Tuesday due to a minor fire at the cafeteria. Milosevic began the day by cross-examining a Kosovo Albanian from the village of Zegra, Qamil Shabani, who testified about the persecution of Zegra residents and their deportation to Macedonia in 1999. The prosecution then called another Kosovo Albanian, Sabit Kadria, who described the slaughter and persecution of Albanians in the Vucitrn area. In this part of the trial, the prosecution is trying to prove Milosevic's responsibility for crimes against humanity in Kosovo, and later, will do the same for war crimes in Bosnia and Croatia. (hina) ha sb