MILOSEVIC'S BELGRADE ATTORNEYS AGAINST 'AMICI CURIAE'

BELGRADE, Sept 7 (Hina) - Three Belgrade attorneys representing the former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic before the international war crimes tribunal for former Yugoslavia in The Hague said on Friday the tribunal's decision to appoint 'amici curiae' (friends of the court) to defend Milosevic only "arouses doubts about the fairness of the trial." Attorneys Zdenko Tomanovic, Dragoslav Ognjanovic and Momo Raicevic said in a statement sent to the media they spoke to Milosevic on the phone today and confirmed he refused any contact with the "pseudo- attorneys" appointed by the Tribunal. After Milosevic refused to appoint his attorneys, the Hague tribunal, acting in line with its rule book, appointed Branislav Tapuskovic from Yugoslavia, Misha Wladimiroff from the Netherlands and Steven Key from Great Britain as 'amici curiae' to represent Milosevic in the trial for war crimes against Kosovo Albanians in 1999. The Belgrade attorneys quoted Milosevic as saying the court- appointed attorneys would be responsible for participating in retaliation against the leader of the people which stood up to NATO. The attorneys claim their client has been denied a fair and open trial. By resorting to the instrument of 'amicus curiae' the Hague tribunal has prevented cross-examination and other action the defendant and his defence are entitled to. The ICTY made the decision on Thursday, explaining the court- appointed attorneys would not defend Milosevic but see that his rights and interests were protected so that he could have a fair trial. (hina) rml