Milosevic lawyers renew bid to withdraw from case

AMSTERDAM - Lawyers appointed to defend former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic have renewed their bid to withdraw from his war crimes trial, according to papers released on Monday by the court.

Steven Kay and Gillian Higgins appealed to the president of the United Nations tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia to reverse a December decision telling them to remain ready to take over Milosevic's defence should his health again deteriorate.

The filing, dated December 28 and released by the court on Monday, does not challenge the court's decision to assign defence lawyers to Milosevic, but asks that Kay and Higgins be released from their roles.

"The assigned counsel do not seek to re-open or challenge the affirmation by the appeals chamber of the trial chamber's assignment of counsel to the accused," Kay and Higgins said in their filing.

"The precise nature of the present challenge relates to the deputy registrar's decision that (they themselves) must remain in the trial."

The lawyers have said they could not defend the former Serb leader as he refused to co-operate with them.

Kay and Higgins were appointed in September, against Milosevic's will, to prevent his ill health further delaying the long trial.

The tribunal's appeals court restored Milosevic's right to lead his own defence case in November, but said the appointed lawyers should remain available to take over should his health prevent him from continuing.

Milosevic suffers from a heart condition and high blood pressure. He had 'not guilty' pleas entered on his behalf after declining to plead to charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

- REUTERS