Milosevic's health failing rapidly, says wife

Slobodan Milosevic’s wife has warned that the former Yugoslav president’s health is deteriorating rapidly under the strain of his war crimes trial.

Mirjana Markovic told a Belgrade newspaper the proceedings at the UN tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, are too exhausting for her husband, who is defending himself against 66 charges.

The 61-year-old former president is accused of war crimes – including genocide and crimes against humanity – stemming from a decade of Balkan wars.

“Slobodan’s life is in danger,” Markovic said. “Not even a much younger and healthier man could endure such a strain.”

Her comments came a day after the trial was again postponed to give him time to recover from the flu.

Milosevic also has a weak heart and high blood pressure – doctors have said he is at risk of a heart attack.

It was the sixth time Milosevic’s poor health has led to delays in the proceedings, which began last February.

His most recent health problems came only five days after a three-week holiday recess at the tribunal.

Markovic told the Vecernje Novosti newspaper that medical tests showed her husband’s heart condition has deteriorated seriously over the last year.

And she complained that he does not get appropriate care and enough time to rest at the prison in The Hague.

Milosevic’s trial is not expected to conclude before 2005.