UN tribunal opens trial of Milosevic for war crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Prosecutors at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) today opened the trial of Slobodan Milosevic for crimes allegedly committed in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On 11 September, the prosecution wrapped up its arguments against the former Yugoslav President on charges relating to war crimes allegedly committed in Kosovo.

This morning in The Hague, Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte and another member of the prosecution team, Geoffrey Nice, presented the 61 charges against Mr. Milosevic, which include counts of genocide and conspiracy to commit genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions.

Mr. Milosevic then began to respond in his own defence, and is expected to continue with his response tomorrow morning, according to UN officials.