European press review

European papers sympathise with the uphill task ahead for prosecutors in the second phase of Slobodan Milosevic's trial.

Spanish dailies show signs of exasperation with the situation in the Basque region.

Chechen rebel attacks spark a war-cry in sections of Russia's press.

And the embattled Ukrainian president's woes continue.

A trial's tribulations

Germany's Berliner Zeitung says prosecutors face a difficult task as former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic's trial resumes in The Hague, with the focus shifting to Bosnia and Croatia.

Without support from the Yugoslav authorities... Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte's chain of evidence threatens to disintegrate

Frankfurter Rundschau

It notes that in the Kosovo-related part of the trial, "the prosecution failed to come up with a single piece of written evidence showing a direct line of command between the murderers in Kosovo" and Slobodan Milosevic.

The French Le Monde concurs that the prosecution's main problem will be "to prove the personal responsibility of the man in the dock" and "to bring to light the power networks through which it was exercised".

"The central actors of this second act will remain members of the close circle gravitating around Milosevic, yet many of these people are still in power in Belgrade," it says.

The Frankfurter Rundschau agrees that "without support from the Yugoslav authorities... Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte's chain of evidence threatens to disintegrate."

The German daily also finds it problematic that Washington will only allow senior US officials to appear as witnesses if they are heard behind closed doors.

"This damages the credibility of the tribunal, in which many witnesses are already appearing anonymously," the paper argues.

The Czech daily Lidove Noviny praises President Stjepan Mesic of Croatia for calling for cooperation with the tribunal, but points out that the president's appeal has "angered" his own government.

Slobodan Milosevic, the paper believes, has succeeded in turning the case against him into "a case against Serbia, at least in the eyes of some of the public".

Nevertheless, the paper urges the International Criminal Tribunal and the international community to "go all the way".

"Courageous attitudes like those of Mesic and others," it says, "as well as the provocative sneers of Milosevic and his ilk, must be recorded in the collective memory that is the history of their nations".

Spanish frustrations

In Spain, the protests of ordinary Basques at the banning of Batasuna, the party widely seen as the political wing of the violent separatist group ETA, appears to have exasperated the Madrid-based dailies.

Put an end to the climate of terror

El Mundo

"The government should not be surprised by society's indignation at the endless expressions of support for terrorism in the Basque country," the Madrid daily La Razon says.

"While recognizing that issues touching upon the freedom of expression... must be pondered with the greatest care, the fact remains that scenes like those being witnesses these days in some Basque localities fill all democrats with shame."

El Mundo, too, complains that the streets of the Basque country "are full of placards and symbols expressing support for the terrorists."

The paper urges the region's autonomous police, known by the Basque name of Ertzaintza, to "clean up the streets so as to put an end to the climate of terror" caused by such propaganda, and "restore the democratic normality so indispensable to the Basque citizens".

Chechens provide 'justification' for war

Russian papers believe military action against Georgia is now imminent following the recent battle with Chechen rebels thought to have crossed the border from Georgia.

"Everything is heading towards a global war in the Caucasus," the heavyweight broadsheet Nezavisimaya Gazeta says.

It adds that Thursday's incident "could not be more timely" as it provides "proof of the threat from Georgia and therefore justifies military action".

Washington's diplomatic statements cannot conceal America's real intentions: Kuchma has to go

Ukrayina Moloda

Russia's demands for a military operation in Georgia had only just been condemned by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The liberal Kommersant agrees that indeed "Russia can now start military action in Georgia right away".

"A detachment of Chechen fighters has attacked the village of Galashki in Ingushetia, presenting justification for military action," the paper tells its readers.

Ukraine's Kuchma in trouble

As Ukraine faces allegations of illegal arms sales to Iraq, Ukrayina Moloda mulls how this will affect President Leonid Kuchma's already embattled administration.

"The thin veil of Washington's diplomatic statements cannot conceal America's real intentions: Kuchma has to go," the pro-opposition daily says.

The paper also believes that the scandal is bound to affect Ukraine's ambition to join Nato.

"It has become obvious that despite the enthusiastic noises emanating from Kiev, Ukraine will never be welcome in Nato as long as Kuchma remains in power," it says.

The Russian paper Nezavisimaya Gazeta suspects the US intends to use Ukraine "as an example for other 'problem' states".

"America's lightning accusations have affected Ukraine's foreign relations... and even Poland, one of Ukraine's few remaining friends...is fully behind the US in changing its policy towards Ukraine and its leadership".

The paper believes Russia is Mr Kuchma's "last hope" and will now be "the main focus of effort for Ukrainian diplomats trying to save President Kuchma".

The European press review is compiled by BBC Monitoring from internet editions of the main European newspapers and some early printed editions.