ICTY STATES TUTA UNFIT TO TRAVEL TO HAGUE

ZAGREB, Nov 3 (Hina) - The Hague-based International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Wednesday afternoon stated Croatian war crimes suspect Mladen Naletilic Tuta at present could not be transferred to The Hague due to poor health.#L# Tribunal spokesman Jim Landale told Hina over the telephone the Tribunal's Secretariat had been informed Naletilic was unfit to travel to The Hague. Following a spoken report by a medical expert team which checked Naletilic in Zagreb on Tuesday, the ICTY Secretariat informed the Prosecutor's Office that a transfer to the Tribunal's prison could not be recommended at the present stage, Landale said. The ICTY spokesman announced Naletilic required further treatment in Zagreb, which should take at least two to three weeks, and added the ICTY expected the suspect would be transferred to The Hague prison, where he would receive necessary medical care, once his condition had improved. The Tribunal is certain Croatian authorities will keep it updated on Naletilic's health, Landale said. He added the ICTY Secretariat had taken note of the professionalism demonstrated by Croatian experts in welcoming the Dutch medical team. The Hague Tribunal a year ago accused Naletilic of war crimes committed in Mostar, southern Bosnia, during the Croat-Muslim conflict, and requested his extradition. Croatian Justice Minister Zvonimir Separovic delayed the extradition due to Naletilic's deteriorating health. In the meantime the suspect underwent heart surgery which improved coronary circulation. (hina) ha