Milosevic defence case delayed again

Judges in Slobodan Milosevic’s war crimes trial ordered another delay in the start of his defence case today, following a medical test showing his blood pressure is still too high.

The former Yugoslav president had been scheduled to begin the long-awaited presentation of his defence in the Hague on Wednesday, after three earlier postponements.

Judges at the UN tribunal for the former Yugoslavia said he is still too sick and will review the status of his health on July 19, tribunal spokesman Jim Landale said.

“On the basis of the blood pressure values of the accused it was found he should rest,” Landale said. “Clearly he is not well enough to start on Wednesday.”

Milosevic, 62, has been on trial since February 2002, facing 66 counts of war crimes for the Balkan wars of the 1990s. The trial has been severely set back by his heart trouble, exhaustion and bouts with flu.

It was further delayed by the resignation in February of presiding judge Richard May due to health reasons. May died earlier this month.

Milosevic wants to call 1,400 witnesses, including Tony Blair and former US President Bill Clinton. The judges will have to cut the witness list if Milosevic is to complete his presentation within the 150 days allowed by the court.