[A-List] Milosevic dies in jail: UN tribunal

["Macdonald Stainsby" <mstainsby@xxxxxxxxx>]

Reutors
March 11, 2006

http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=uri:2006-03-11T125126Z_01_LA749012_RTRUKOC_0_US-WARCRIMES-MILOSEVIC.xml&pageNumber=1&summit=


Milosevic dies in jail: UN tribunal

Sat Mar 11, 2006 7:51 AM ET163


AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Former Yugoslav President
Slobodan Milosevic has died, the UN tribunal said on
Saturday, just months before his war crimes trial was
expected to conclude.

"Milosevic was found lifeless on his bed in his cell at
the United Nations detention unit," the tribunal said in
a statement.

"The guard immediately alerted the detention unit officer
in command and the medical officer. The latter confirmed
that Slobodan Milosevic was dead."

The tribunal said the Dutch police and a Dutch coroner
were called in and started an inquiry. A full autopsy and
toxicological examination have been ordered. Milosevic's
family has been informed, it added.

The tribunal did not say how Milosevic had died. French
Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told Reuters
Milosevic had died of natural causes.

Milosevic, 64, suffered a heart condition and high blood
pressure which had repeatedly interrupted his trial in
The Hague on charges of genocide, crimes against
humanity and war crimes during the bloody disintegration
of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Two cardiologists treating Milosevic in The Hague had
warned he was at risk of a potentially life threatening
condition known as a hypertensive emergency, when
surges in blood pressure can damage the heart,
kidneys and central nervous system.

Last month, the tribunal rejected a request by Milosevic
to travel to Russia for specialist medical treatment,
noting that his trial -- that has already lasted four years
-- was in the final stages and he might not return to
complete it.

The court said Milosevic's lawyers had not shown that
his medical needs could not be met in the Netherlands
and said experts from abroad could come to The
Hague to treat him.

Milosevic, who was overthrown in 2000 and sent to
The Hague in June 2001, said last month his health
was worsening.

Milosevic's brother lives in Russia and prosecutors
suspect his wife and son do too. The prosecution
had opposed his release despite a promise by
Russia to return him, fearing he could say his health
stopped him from traveling back to The Hague.

The former Serb strongman was defending himself
and had refused to cooperate with court-appointed
lawyers who are on standby to fill in for him when
he is ill.

He had used up more than four-fifths of the 150
days allotted for his defense, suggesting the case
could be wrapped up in the next few months
barring any new delays. Judges would then need
several months to deliberate before a verdict.

Milosevic is charged with 66 counts of genocide,
crimes against humanity and war crimes in
complex indictments covering conflicts in Bosnia,
Croatia and Kosovo in the 1990s. He declined to
enter a plea.

Last week, former rebel Croatian Serb leader Milan
Babic committed suicide at the tribunal's detention
center. Babic had testified against Milosevic and
was in The Hague to appear in the trial of another
top Croatian Serb.


--
Macdonald Stainsby
http://independentmedia.ca/survivingcanada/
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green
In the contradiction lies the hope.
--Brecht.