Tribunal orders suspect to be force-fed By MIKE CORDER, Associated Press Writer 16 minutes ago The Yugoslav war crimes tribunal ordered Dutch authorities Wednesday to feed a hunger-striking Serb ultranationalist leader intravenously if it becomes necessary to save his life. However, a three-judge panel also said that moves to force-feed war crimes suspect Vojislav Seselj should only be undertaken "to the extent that such services are not contrary to compelling internationally accepted standards of medical ethics or binding rules of international law." In a written "urgent order to the Dutch authorities," the judges said international law on force-feeding is not uniform, but European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence states "'force-feeding' does not constitute torture, inhuman or degrading treatment if there is a medical necessity to do so." Justice Ministry spokesman Hans Janssens said he had no comment on the order. Serbian, French and Russian doctors approved by Seselj examined him Tuesday and issued a grim prognosis. "In the coming days we think he could have a cardiac arrest if he continues his hunger strike," Dr. Patrick Barriot told The Associated Press after the visit. "If he continues, he will die in the coming two weeks." Seselj launched a hunger strike Nov. 11 over a variety of demands including unrestricted spousal visits and the right to conduct his own defense. The tribunal said last week he also is seeking to have frozen overseas bank accounts released. Earlier Wednesday, tribunal spokesman Refik Hodzic said the U.N. court "once again calls upon Mr. Seselj to stop endangering his health, start taking food and medicine and engage in the court process to address any requests he may have in relation to his trial." In Serbia, however, officials from Seselj's party said he is determined to continue the hunger strike even if it kills him. "He will not accept to be transferred to a Dutch or a Belgrade hospital and he insists on continuing his hunger strike until all of his demands are met," Serbian Radical Party official Dragan Todorovic said after speaking to Seselj on a cell phone. Todorovic quoted Seselj as saying that he will no longer accept doctors' or his family's visits, "but will from now on only speak to a priest." The Hague-based tribunal has accused Seselj, 52, of conspiring with former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and other leaders to purge non-Serbs from parts of Croatia and Bosnia to create a "Greater Serbia" during the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Seselj surrendered voluntarily to the court in 2003, declaring his innocence. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Even though he has been jailed since then, Seselj remains leader of the Serbian Radical Party. Over the weekend, he urged his supporters to pursue the goal of creating a "Greater Serbia" if he dies. ___ Associated Press writer Dusan Stojanovic contributed to this report from Belgrade, Serbia. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061206/ap_on_re_eu/war_crimes_serbia [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
