An unyielding Milosevic faces his judges
( 2001-08-31 11:06 ) (7 )

Ousted Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic waits inside the court room for his second appearance before the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal in The Hague on August 30. [Reuters]

"Can I speak or are you going to turn off my microphone like the first time?" Slobodan Milosevic sniped at judge Richard May.

The opening question set the tone for a frosty exchange between the former Yugoslav president and the judge of the UN war crimes tribunal that did not let up during the full 45-minute hearing on Thursday.

Wearing a navy blue suit and a blue-white-red tie in the colors of the Yugoslav flag, Milosevic was led into the courtroom a few minutes after 10:00 am for his second appearance before the tribunal.

Milosevic shot a quick, disdainful look at the tribunal's chief prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, seated across from him in court.

As May explained his decision to appoint a legal adviser for him, Milosevic kept his defiant composure even as a UN guard served him a cup of coffee.

The Serb nationalist showed no emotion as Del Ponte told the court two new indictments would be brought against Milosevic for "genocide" in Bosnia and "war crimes" committed in Croatia.

Milosevic is currently charged with "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity" for ordering the Serb "crackdown" on ethnic Albanians in Kosovo in 1998-1999.

In an almost repeat performance of his first appearance on July 3, Milosevic seized the opportunity to challenge the legitimacy of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

"I would like to make a presentation about the illegality of this tribunal," he told the judges, "If you do not want to listen to it, my associates will give it to the press."

May, a British judge, told Milosevic he could submit a written presentation and the court would examine it.

Seeking to turn the proceedings to his advantage, Milosevic then announced that he would like to ask the court some questions but May responded that he could submit requests but would not be allowed to raise direct questions.

The Serb strongman then launched into a speech about the illegality of the tribunal and the conditions of his detention, complaining that his rights were being "massively violated" by the tribunal.

"I am discriminated (against) all the time, from day one, from the first time I got here," he said in English. In a loud voice he protested that he was not allowed to meet with his lawyers.

The judge cut him off and explained that this was the result of Milosevic's own refusal to appoint defense counsel. Only lawyers appointed by the accused have the right to private meetings with "war crimes suspects" under the tribunal's rules, May pointed out.

Casting a glance to the public gallery Milosevic asked why he was being barred from talking to the press. Under ICTY rules of detention, suspects are not allowed to speak to journalists.

"Why am I totally isolated from the press in circumstances where every day there is written something about me that is a lie?" he demanded.

"Among the representatives of the press maybe there is someone who would like to know the truth," Milosevic added.

"Mr Milosevic, there must be an end to this," May responded.

When he continued to speak May cut off his microphone. For a moment the former strongman kept talking, inaudible to the public, and pointing his finger to underline his statements.

The judges left the room and Milosevic did the same after he handed a white envelope with his written submission to one of the court guards.