Baggage hitch delays Milosevic war crimes lawyers
THE HAGUE, July 2 (Reuters) - Slobodan Milosevic's lawyers ran into a delay
on Monday as they arrived at The Hague to prepare his defence on war crimes
charges when baggage for the jailed former Yugoslav president went missing
in
transit.
Attorneys Zdenko Tomanovic and Dragan Krgovic had been expecting to meet
their client at the UN remand centre in the Dutch city around noon (1000
GMT)
after flying in from Belgrade.
But Tomanovic told Reuters as they arrived at the International Criminal
Tribunal building to request permission to see Milosevic that baggage they
were bringing to the ousted leader had gone missing at Schipol airport and
had held them up.
It had still not been found.
Tomanovic was also quoted by Yugoslavia's Tanjug news agency as saying one
of
two suitcases had disappeared.
"The suitcase with Mr. Milosevic's personal belongings has been lost and we
spent an hour and the half at the airport persuading the authorities to find
it," Tomanovic said.
He said books were in the other suitcase, adding that the one which has been
lost contained items Milosevic needed for Tuesday's arraignment hearing in
The Hague when he is expected to enter his plea to charges of crimes against
humanity.
"Among other reasons, he needs these personal belongings for his first
appearance in the court on Tuesday when he is expected to enter his plea,"
Tomanovic told Tanjug. "Today, we should discuss with Mr. Milosevic the
elements on which our defence will be based and a possible expansion of the
defence team."
06:35 07-02-01
Serbian News Network - SNN
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.antic.org/
