Milosovic Death Conspiracy

Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has died in The Hague detention centre.

Milosevic, 64, who was on trial for war crimes, was found in his prison cell. A spokesperson for the UN tribunal said he had apparently died of natural causes. He was known to have heart problems. A full autopsy and toxicological examination of Milosevic's body has been ordered, according to a tribunal spokesman.

The guard who discovered the body immediately called doctors but Milosevic was pronounced dead, he added.

Milosevic had been on trial since early 2002, defending 66 counts, including genocide, in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo.

His lawyer told BBC News 24 that Mr Milosevic would not have committed suicide because he wanted to complete his trial, which had been due to restart.

"In fact he said to me a few weeks ago. 'I hadn't fought this case for as long as I have with any intention of to do any harm to myself, Mr Kay'. And that is why he wanted medical treatment," Steven Kay said.

The hearings were repeatedly interrupted by his poor health and chronic heart condition, but had been entering the final phase.

Both the former Serbian leader's parents committed suicide.

Milosevic's death comes less than a week after the star witness in his trial, former Croatian Serb leader Milan Babic, was found dead in the same prison.

Babic, who was serving a 13-year prison sentence and testified against Milosevic in 2002, committed suicide.


The conspiracy theories about these deaths will no doubt follow; Milosovic's lawyer has already demanded that the autopsy be moved from the Haig to Moscow but this has been refused. He also has claimed that Milosovic spoke about being poisoned.

However with a political character like Milosovic, so full of his own "historical" self importance like many of that type of leader, a suicide aimed at confounding his enemies seems just as likely given his inheritance.

Can the Tribunal be acussed of neglecting his health and directly or indirectly being negligent or worse with his life? Possibly. But the prosecutors will be disappointed to have missed the chance to complete the prosecution of this war criminal. The survivors of atrocities such as Srebrenica are also reporting mixed feelings.

Whichever way you look at it it's one less failed war criminal in this world. Some have argued that Prime Minister Tony Blair should be tried for war crimes. However one look at the history of the former Yugoslavia shows the true nature of a leader who commits war crimes. The world will be a brighter place for the passing of Slobodan Milosovic.