The Hague, 30 August 2001 (RFE/RL) -- The chief prosecutor of the UN war crimes tribunal says she will file charges of genocide against former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. Carla del Ponte today said she expects to file on 1 October new indictments against Milosevic for crimes committed in Bosnia and Croatia in the early 1990s. Milosevic was at that time at the top of the Yugoslav chain of command.
Del Ponte said the new indictments will be combined with charges for crimes against humanity committed in Kosovo in 1999.
Del Ponte spoke after Milosevic had refused to recognize the UN war crimes tribunal, appoint a defense lawyer, or enter a plea to the charges against him.
"I am not recognizing this tribunal. I am considering it completely illegitimate and illegal, so all those questions about counsels, about representations, are out of the question."
Milosevic made this statement during his second appearance before the tribunal. Presiding Judge Richard May told him to stick to legal points and forego political rhetorics.
For more on this story, please see: UN: Milosevic Remains Defiant At Tribunal Hearing.
Del Ponte said the new indictments will be combined with charges for crimes against humanity committed in Kosovo in 1999.
Del Ponte spoke after Milosevic had refused to recognize the UN war crimes tribunal, appoint a defense lawyer, or enter a plea to the charges against him.
"I am not recognizing this tribunal. I am considering it completely illegitimate and illegal, so all those questions about counsels, about representations, are out of the question."
Milosevic made this statement during his second appearance before the tribunal. Presiding Judge Richard May told him to stick to legal points and forego political rhetorics.
For more on this story, please see: UN: Milosevic Remains Defiant At Tribunal Hearing.