Milosevic opposes speedier trial
Slobodan Milosevic
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Mr Milosevic has been on trial in The Hague since February 2002
Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and prosecutors in The Hague
have objected to a bid by judges at the UN tribunal to speed up his trial.
Judges suggested splitting charges relating to the 1999 conflict in Kosovo
from those covering wars in Croatia and Bosnia, amid concerns over his
health.
Mr Milosevic said splitting the case into separate trials would be unlawful.
The 64-year-old's trial for war crimes has had a number of delays because of
his ill-heath.
It was adjourned two weeks ago when Mr Milosevic told the judges he was too
ill to continue the session.
The trial of the former leader, who has a heart condition, has been running
at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for
more than three years.
'Unlawful acrobatics'
The hearing to consider the proposal to separate the indictment on Kosovo so
that part of the trial could be concluded came after the recent
postponement.
But the former leader said that splitting the landmark case was "illogical
and unlawful acrobatics".
Mr Milosevic said the proposal meant his defence was "being sabotaged".
Prosecutor Geoffrey Nice said there could be no question of delaying or
dropping any element.
"This is a case that has to be seen as a whole," he said.
Before Mr Milosevic won the right to conduct his own defence last year,
proceedings were interrupted 15 times.
Mr Milosevic was in office for 13 years until 2000. He faces life
imprisonment if found guilty.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4481942.stm
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