Milosevic Asks Court For Six-Week Delay

Slobodan Milosevic (file photo) (CTK) 15 November 2005 -- Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic asked the UN war crimes tribunal today for a six-week recess in his trial, on grounds of a new medical report that his heart condition has not improved.

Milosevic said three doctors examined him on 4 November and recommended "a suspension of physical and mental activities for a minimum of six weeks."

The pause would allow him time to recover from the strain of defending himself against charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity during the break-up of the former Yugoslavia during the 1990s.

The three-judge tribunal, which only received a copy of the report during today's hearing, said it would consider it.

The trial, which began nearly four years ago, has been repeatedly delayed by Milosevic's poor health.

Court-appointed doctors have said he has chronic high blood pressure leading to frequent bouts of exhaustion.

(AP)