Milosevic dies in jail

[27]

Milosevic dies in jail
Sat Mar 11, 2006 12:58 PM GMT

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has died, the UN tribunal said on Saturday, just months before his war crimes trial was expected to conclude.

"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."

The tribunal said the Dutch police and a Dutch coroner were called in and started an inquiry. A full autopsy and toxicological examination have been ordered. Milosevic's family has been informed, it added.

The tribunal did not say how Milosevic had died. French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told Reuters Milosevic had died of natural causes.

Milosevic, 64, suffered a heart condition and high blood pressure which had repeatedly interrupted his trial in The Hague on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes during the bloody disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Two cardiologists treating Milosevic in The Hague had warned he was at risk of a potentially life threatening condition known as a hypertensive emergency, when surges in blood pressure can damage the heart, kidneys and central nervous system.

Last month, the tribunal rejected a request by Milosevic to travel to Russia for specialist medical treatment, noting that his trial -- that has already lasted four years -- was in the final stages and he might not return to complete it.

The court said Milosevic's lawyers had not shown that his medical needs could not be met in the Netherlands and said experts from abroad could come to The Hague to treat him.

Milosevic, who was overthrown in 2000 and sent to The Hague in June 2001, said last month his health was worsening.

Milosevic's brother lives in Russia and prosecutors suspect his wife and son do too. The prosecution had opposed his release despite a promise by Russia to return him, fearing he could say his health stopped him from travelling back to The Hague.

The former Serb strongman was defending himself and had refused to cooperate with court-appointed lawyers who are on standby to fill in for him when he is ill.

He had used up more than four-fifths of the 150 days allotted for his defence, suggesting the case could be wrapped up in the next few months barring any new delays. Judges would then need several months to deliberate before a verdict.

Milosevic is charged with 66 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in complex indictments covering conflicts in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo in the 1990s. He declined to enter a plea.

Last week, former rebel Croatian Serb leader Milan Babic committed suicide at the tribunal's detention centre. Babic had testified against Milosevic and was in The Hague to appear in the trial of another top Croatian Serb.

[Warthog]

Huh. Well then.

[porsch1909]

Easy way out

[njolakoski]

Dont have a Good Opinion on him, but did not wish him death.

[tony_j15]

I did, and I'm ticked that he got out before we could flip the switch.

[njolakoski]

Well tony, in his latest war before, getting sent to Hague, he had the right idea, just the wrong way of doing it.

but then again the US has had its moments supporting the wrong side, like the KLA, NLA as they did in Kosovo.

Even though the KLA was on the list of Terrorists.......

Or in Afghan against Soviets....

Or Iraq-Iran War....

[Mr. Goodbytes]

Maybe he can be posthumously convicted.

[johnnycombat]

Well tony, in his latest war before, getting sent to Hague, he had the right idea, just the wrong way of doing it.

The right idea, what idea do you think that is?

Do you mean trying to stir up ethnic tensions for political gain, or do you mean trying to push Albanians out of Kosovo? I am curious.

[Amr]

Disappointing, I, like millions, would have liked to see him pay fort his crimes by at least serving some years in jail. He has received the easy way out, together with that coward who committed suicide in his prison cell.

I am not sure how genocide can be seen as the “right idea”, but even Hitler had supporters.

[RayH]

Shades of Herman Goering.

[Epidemic]

It would be good if all criminals could die before completing their trials. It is a win win situation, Dead and don't have to pay for trial.

Maybe he can be posthumously convicted.

Hey if you have 20 million dollars and hundreds of thousands of man hours to waste more power to ya. Personally this is great.

[Mr. Goodbytes]

Geez, Ep, it was a joke. The bigger joke is that they even needed a 4 year trial that will never be concluded just to prove this guy was guilty. It just goes to show how pitiful the courts are in matters that need to be resolved by the military.

[njolakoski]

The right idea, what idea do you think that is?

Do you mean trying to stir up ethnic tensions for political gain, or do you mean trying to push Albanians out of Kosovo? I am curious.

Like I said he had the right idea just the wrong way of doing it.

Kosovo is apart of Serbia and has been part of Serbia.

The Kosovarian Albanians never had a problem with living there, until the KLA came in.. Kosovo Liberation Army, and the NLA, National Liberation Army.

What are the KLA and NLA liberating? Nothing.

Instead they were trying to do this :



But instead the US and Nato helped the KLA and NLA too.

Which also later led to fighting in Macedonia, by the two same groups, to "liberate".

I do not like Milosevic for the many things he did in, Croatia, Bosnia, and tried to do in Slovenia and for his Ambitions towards Macedonia.

He was the main cause of the break up of SFRJ.

Which brings me to my next point. If you try Milosevic in Hague. I think you should try Clinton in Hague.

Clinton was no better. There was no reason to target hospitals, bridges full of people on them, trains, anything civil.

Yet the opposite occured.

And lastly, Milosevic was poisoned, and did not die of "natural causes".

Report: Milosevic's Blood Had Drug Traces

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060312/D8GA77IO4.html
Email this Story

Mar 12, 2:17 PM (ET)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - Traces of a drug used to treat leprosy and tuberculosis were found in a blood sample taken in recent months from former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, a Dutch news report said, citing an unidentified "adviser" to the U.N. war crimes tribunal.

The report came hours after Milosevic's legal adviser showed journalists a letter the late Serb leader wrote Friday, one day before his body was discovered in prison, alleging that he was being poisoned.

The report was on the text service of the Dutch state broadcaster, NOS. It did not identify its source further.

Dutch doctors conducted an autopsy Sunday on Milosevic's remains, but the results were not expected to be released until Monday.

The tribunal spokeswoman said she could not comment on the news report. "We don't have any information. We simply have to wait for the results" of the autopsy report, said Alexandra Milenov.

Doctors found traces of the drug when they were searching for an answer to why Milosevic's medication for high blood pressure was not working, the report said.

Milosevic was examined last January, according to his legal aide, Zdenko Tomanovic.

The NOS report did not identify the drug found in Milosevic's blood "in a test done in recent months," but said it could have had a "neutralizing effect" on his other medications.

Earlier, Tomanovic said Milosevic had been "seriously concerned" about being poisoned.

His letter, dated March 10, was addressed to the Russian Embassy asking for help.

Milosevic had appealed to the war crimes tribunal last December to be allowed to go to a heart clinic in Moscow for treatment. The request was denied. He repeated the request as late as last month.

Milosevic underwent frequent medical examinations by doctors and specialists appointed by the tribunal and by Serb doctors brought at his own request. Detailed reports were routinely submitted to the judges.

Tomanovic said he saw the jailed Serb leader on Friday at 4:30 p.m. His body was found the next morning, and by 11 a.m. the letter was delivered to the Russian Embassy.

[njolakoski]

Heres some to read on...

Rest Easy, Bill Clinton: Milosevic Can't Talk Anymore

by Jeremy Scahill

http://www.antiwar.com/orig/jscahill.php?articleid=8692

[Epidemic]

Like I said he had the right idea just the wrong way of doing it.

Kosovo is apart of Serbia and has been part of Serbia.

The Kosovarian Albanians never had a problem with living there, until the KLA came in.. Kosovo Liberation Army, and the NLA, National Liberation Army.

What are the KLA and NLA liberating? Nothing.

Instead they were trying to do this :



But instead the US and Nato helped the KLA and NLA too.

Which also later led to fighting in Macedonia, by the two same groups, to "liberate".

I do not like Milosevic for the many things he did in, Croatia, Bosnia, and tried to do in Slovenia and for his Ambitions towards Macedonia.

Interesting I never thought about that. So the reasons for milosovic crackdowns were because of internal strife caused by terrorists and anarchists? hence his and the publics response was a response to trouble makers that spilled over onto the innocent as well?

[njolakoski]

Yes, Pretty much the kla started bombing refugee centers of serbs from croatia in kosovo, started killing serb cops, and albanians who were not supporting the kla.

as early as 1998, peter galbraith called them a terrorist organziation

[Epidemic]

wow I was sucked into the media hype on that one.

Milosovic may have gone too far but it does seem as if there were some mitigating circumstances.

Damn now I have softened my position of Saddam (ruled iraq in the way he determined best considering the instability) and milisovic for the same.

I do not excuse either one but I understand more.

[njolakoski]

Thats what I hoped to do, show the other side, not just the Media's idea.

Like I said earlier, I do not like Milosevic at all.

He was the main cause why SFRJ(Jugoslavija = Yugoslavia)broke up, after Josip Broz Tito died.

[johnnycombat]

Like I said he had the right idea just the wrong way of doing it.

Kosovo is apart of Serbia and has been part of Serbia.

The Kosovarian Albanians never had a problem with living there, until the KLA came in.. Kosovo Liberation Army, and the NLA, National Liberation Army.

What are the KLA and NLA liberating? Nothing.

Serbia has controlled Kosovo since the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire but about 80% of the population is ethnic Albanian. While Serbians have viewed Kosovo as part of Serbia since the days of Prince Lazar, the majority Albanians don’t have the same point of view. For the most part many Albanians did not have a problem living there before the rise of Milosevic but friction had existed there throughout the history of Yugoslavia. Milosevic, among others, intentionaly agitated ethnic tension to cast himself has the protector of Serbia starting in the mid-1980s.

Before the KLA came on the scene Milosevic had already stripped Kosovo of all of the autonomy it had gained under the 1968 constitution. By the time the KLA was the situation in Kosovo had already deteriorated thanks to Milosevic. By the time the KLA was there they had good reason to fear Milosevic.

Now I will grant you that there was a large KLA faction, maybe a majority, who were seeking a greater Albania, but that is a weak defense of Milosevic. The bottom line is Milosevic was the cause of most of what he fought against. He created enemies to further is own political career.

[njolakoski]

Yes, Tito gave Kosovo autonomy, and put it down in the Yugoslav Constitution.

We both agree, that Milosevic was not a "good guy". But there was a small purpose though.

What do we do about the US supporting KLA and NLA?