Milosevic hearing adjourned

The trial of Slobodan Milosevic at the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague has been adjourned.

In the brief hearing, Milosevic was asked whether he wished to reconsider his decision not to engage a defence lawyer and whether he wished to enter a plea.

He replied that he considered the tribunal an "illegal" body and therefore had no need of counsel.

"It is illegal, being not appointed by the UN General Assembly," he said.

He failed to enter a plea. According to the tribunal rules, he had a plea of not guilty on all counts entered on his behalf by the tribunal judges.

Milosevic told the judges he considered the court ‘‘a false tribunal’’ and the indictments were false.

‘‘I have no need to appoint council to illegal organ,’’ he said, speaking in English.

Asked if he wanted the indictment read out to him, Milosevic, a qualified lawyer, responded, "that’s your problem".’

British Judge Richard May encouraged Milosevic to reconsider his decision against taking legal council to represent him.

The court was adjourned until August 27 without the indictment being read.