Slobodan Milosevic is refusing to take the medicine prescribed for his high blood pressure by United Nations doctors at his cell, jeopardising his trial for war crimes in what prosecutors said on Wednesday was a calculated attempt to delay the trial still further.
Two independent and confidential medical reports also found that Milosevic, unknown to those treating him, was taking another, unprescribed drug. They concluded he was not fit to conduct his own defence.
In an outburst at the close of the hearing at the war crimes tribunal in the Hague, Milosevic also complained that he had recently been served the wrong food at his detention unit at Scheveningen outside the Hague — food apparently intended for a fellow inmate.
Long-term observers of the tribunal speculated whether Mr Milosevic, who turned 63 last month, was becoming paranoid after more than three years in custody on charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
Milosevic waited until the close of the hearing on Wednesday to accuse a heart specialist who provided independent medical expertise on his condition of being a Nato stooge and demanding a new check-up from friendly doctors from Serbia, Russia and Greece.
The prosecution denounced the demand as another ploy to waste the court’s time, but it appeared that the judges might grant Milosevic a further week to submit medical evidence.
The medical reports said Milosevic was refusing to take pills prescribed for hypertension, but was taking pills obtained elsewhere to relieve stress.
Milosevic reacted angrily to the discussion. ”I take my medication in the presence of guards and the guard writes down the exact time I ingested those medicines,” he said.
But he added that the pills were causing unpleasant side-effects. He had discussed the problem with his Serbian doctor and decided to change the medicine.
”He’s playing with his medicines to avoid coming to court,” said Florence Hartmann, a spokesperson for the prosecution.
The three-judge panel in the case is considering whether to compel Milosevic to accept a defence team and appeared poised to order that on Wednesday when the row over the accused’s tablets, conduct, and legal rights erupted, threatening to delay further a 30-month trial.
The judges are to rule today whether Milosevic is to be forced to use defence lawyers. A compromise appeared in the offing for a ”standby lawyer” to conduct the defence when the accused was sick or when delegated by Milosevic.
But Milosevic could still refuse all cooperation with a defence team ”assigned” by the judges. ”I won’t have my right to defend myself diminished. I will never waive that,” he vowed on Wednesday after opening his defence on Tuesday. – Guardian Unlimited Â