Milosevic refuses psychiatric examination

Slobodan Milosevic has refused to undergo a psychiatric examination that would test his ability to stand his war crimes trial.

The UN tribunal in the Hague says an examination of Milosevic's mental condition would not be imposed against the defendant's will.

The three-judge panel has been given a cardiologist's report, but has declined to disclose the results of the examination.

The tribunal ordered the two reports last month on the advice of the medical officer at the UN detention unit where Milosevic has stayed since he was extradited to The Hague in June 2001 for trial on charges of war crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s.

Proceedings against Milosevic, 61, have been interrupted five times since the trial began in February when he fell ill with flu or exhaustion. He has insisted on defending himself without the aid of a defence lawyer, and puts in long hours preparing his cross-examinations of prosecution witnesses.

Meanwhile, the tribunal said it will hand down its ruling on December 11 on the appeal by former Washington Post reporter Jonathan Randal against a subpoena to testify before the tribunal.

Randal, supported by several international news organisations, has sought limited rights for journalists to refuse a summons from the tribunal.

The tribunal also said it will begin a three-day sentencing hearing on December 16 for Bosnian Serb wartime leader Biljana Plavsic, one of the tribunal's highest-ranking suspects.

Plavsic, who surrendered in January 2001, pleaded guilty last October to one count of crimes against humanity. The prosecution subsequently dropped seven other war crimes charges against her, including genocide.