Milosevic health fears: key quotes

A flushed Mr Milosevic accused the judges of hindering his recovery

Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic was due to begin his defence against charges of war crimes on Monday.

Instead, the tribunal was told he is in poor health, prompting the judges to reconsider how to continue with the trial.

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Presiding Judge Patrick Robinson

"The time has come for a radical review of the trial process and the continuation of the trial."

"It is absolutely essential that Milosevic rests. " (quoting from a medical report).

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Slobodan Milosevic

"My health situation has deteriorated as a direct result of your refusal to enable me to get my health back.

"What you have done today is a classic example of maltreatment of prisoners. This kind of decision-making is something we only know from the Inquisition in the Middle Ages.

"The date for my opening statement should not be fixed earlier than a month from now."

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Geoffrey Nice, prosecutor

"This is a case that must be tried. The accused wishes it to be tried.

"The time has now come where it is essential, if this case is to be properly concluded and in a reasonable period of time, that [a] counsel is imposed [on Milosevic]."

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Steven Kay, court-appointed independent lawyer

"It's quite clear over the past five months that his health had been gradually declining and it may well be that the court is at a stage now of having to consider as to his very fitness to stand trial at all.

"He is plainly not fit enough this week [to appear in court]."