MILOSEVIC'S ATTORNEY FILES REQUEST FOR RELEASE FROM CUSTODY

BELGRADE, April 2 (Hina) - Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's attorney Toma Fila on Monday filed a request that his client be released from a 30-day custody, ruled by an investigating judge on Sunday. The court has 48 hours to decide. Fila visited Milosevic at Belgrade's central prison in the morning. Upon arriving at the prison yesterday, Milosevic ostensibly wanted to rest after two sleepless nights, but according to press reports, the rest was a brief one, as at noon he was interviewed by the investigating judge for three hours. Fila said yesterday Milosevic "feels good" but confirmed his client was "under sedatives" and "has a slightly high blood pressure." Milosevic has been a diabetic for many years. For this week, investigating judge Goran Cavlina has announced interviews with Yugoslavia's former customs chief Mihalj Kertes, former Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic, who was Milosevic's "most trusted associate", another former Deputy PM, Jovan Zebic, and Serbia's former state security chief Radomir Markovic, who has been in custody for over a month now. Several sources have claimed Kertes and Markovic in their statements accused Milosevic the most. Their statements were ostensibly the basis for the corruption and abuse of office Milosevic has been charged with. Sainovic enjoys MP immunity. The Yugoslav parliament is expected to convene and decide on revoking immunity so that he may be arrested. (hina) ha