THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, Sept 16 (Hina) - The trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic before the Hague war crimes tribunal was adjourned earlier than usual on Tuesday after the defendant complained of fatigue and it was
established that his blood pressure was high.
THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, Sept 16 (Hina) - The trial of former Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic before the Hague war crimes tribunal
was adjourned earlier than usual on Tuesday after the defendant
complained of fatigue and it was established that his blood
pressure was high. #L#
When the presiding judge, Richard May, asked Milosevic if he wished
to leave the court, the defendant refused, saying his high blood
pressure was the consequence of chronic fatigue and not illness.
Even though the trial was interrupted a dozen times to date due to
Milosevic's deteriorated health, today was the first time since
proceedings started on 12 February 2002 that he spoke about his
health and fatigue in court.
Concluding that the fatigue was the consequence of the job
Milosevic took on when he decided to defend himself alone, Judge May
reiterated that he needed legal counsel.
Before adjourning today's hearing 30 minutes earlier than usual,
May said the Trial Chamber would decide tomorrow how much time
Milosevic would be granted to prepare his evidence.
The prosecution should finish entering evidence in late November or
early December. Following a break in proceedings set by the Trial
Chamber, the defence starts entering its evidence.
Milosevic recently asked to be temporarily released from custody
and for at least two years to prepare his evidence, which the Trial
Chamber resolutely refused.
While cross-examining witness Aernhout van Lynden earlier today,
Milosevic said it was "undisputed" that Sarajevo was shelled from
Serb positions around the city, but added that Serbia vehemently
condemned that on several occasions.
Footage was shown in court which Dutchman van Lynden made for the
British TV network Sky News in Sarajevo in 1992, when the Bosnian
capital was under siege.
Milosevic argued that was an exchange of fire between Muslim and
Serb troops, but the witness said that when the footage was shot in
early June 1992, no fire came from the city.
Van Lynden confirmed Milosevic's claim that snipers in Sarajevo
were active on both sides, and reiterated that Army of Bosnia and
Herzegovina troops in the city were small in number, poorly armed,
and inferior when compared to the Serbs' heavy artillery in the
surrounding hills.
The witness dismissed Milosevic's assessment that his reports to
Sky News contributed to distorting the picture of what was going on
in Sarajevo and to laying the blame on Serbs.
(hina) ha