Belgrade, 27 June 2001 (RFE/RL) -- Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic today refused to take part in a hearing paving the way for his extradition to the UN war crimes tribunal. The extradition order and international war crimes indictment were to have been read to Milosevic in the presence of his defense team at the Central Prison in Belgrade.
But his lawyers said Milosevic had refused to give a statement to an investigating judge because his defense team had applied for the removal from the case of the three-judge panel handling it.
Serbia's Supreme Court and the state prosecutor must rule on Milosevic's request within 24 hours.
The Constitutional Court will rule tomorrow on the legality of a government decree allowing the extradition of Milosevic.
Meanwhile, the EU and the World Bank today said they will go ahead with Friday's conference to raise money for Yugoslavia. The United States has not said whether it will attend the meeting.
For more on this story, see Pressure Mounts To Transfer Milosevic To The Hague
But his lawyers said Milosevic had refused to give a statement to an investigating judge because his defense team had applied for the removal from the case of the three-judge panel handling it.
Serbia's Supreme Court and the state prosecutor must rule on Milosevic's request within 24 hours.
The Constitutional Court will rule tomorrow on the legality of a government decree allowing the extradition of Milosevic.
Meanwhile, the EU and the World Bank today said they will go ahead with Friday's conference to raise money for Yugoslavia. The United States has not said whether it will attend the meeting.
For more on this story, see Pressure Mounts To Transfer Milosevic To The Hague