Breaking news:Milosevic found dead in his cell

Milosevic found dead in his cell
Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has died in the detention centre at The Hague tribunal.
The tribunal said he had been found dead in his cell on Saturday morning. The cause of death is not yet clear.

Mr Milosevic, 64, had been on trial at the UN war crimes tribunal for genocide and other war crimes since 2001.

The tribunal last month rejected a request by Mr Milosevic to go to Russia for medical treatment. He had high blood pressure and a heart condition.

The tribunal has ordered an inquiry into the death.


HAVE YOUR SAY
I hope that with his death an era will also end in Serbia, I hope that those ruling Serbia will stop the continuation of his politics
G Kasbergu, Pristina, Kosovo


"Milosevic was found lifeless on his bed in his cell at the United Nations detention unit," the tribunal said in a statement.

"The guard immediately alerted the detention unit officer in command and the medical officer. The latter confirmed that Slobodan Milosevic was dead."

'Punished already'

Mr Milosevic faced charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his alleged central role in the wars in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo during the 1990s.

He also faced genocide charges over the 1992-95 Bosnia war, in which 200,000 people died.

Mr Milosevic was in office for 13 years until 2000.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he hoped the death would help Serbia to come to terms with its past and allow it to look to the future.


CHARGES AGAINST MILOSEVIC
Genocide, relating to the massacre in Srebrenica, Bosnia
Crimes against humanity, relating to Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo
Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, relating to Bosnia and Croatia
Violations of the laws or customs of war, relating to Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo


Mothers and widows of Muslims killed in Srebrenica during the Bosnian war said they regretted Mr Milosevic's death meant he would never face justice for the killings.

"However, it seems that God punished him already," said Hajra Catic of the Association of Srebrenica mothers.

Mr Milosevic's brother Borislav was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying the war crimes court was "entirely responsible" for his death.

'Not suicide'

The former president had been ill for some time, and his trial was interrupted last year because of health problems.

His lawyer told BBC News 24 that Mr Milosevic would not have committed suicide because he was determined to complete his trial.

"He said to me a few weeks ago, I haven't fought this case for as long as I have with any intention to do any harm to myself," Steven Kay said.

Both the Serbian leader's parents committed suicide.








Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/europe/4796470.stm

Published: 2006/03/11 14:14:20 GMT

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4796470.stm