Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic makes his appearance at International Criminal Tribunal in Hague, Netherlands, July 5.

A U.N. tribunal delayed the opening of Slobodan Milosevic's defense case Monday due to concerns about his health, and an independent lawyer said he may not be fit to continue his trial.

Judges said doctors for the 62-year-old former Yugoslav president had urgently warned he needed rest, and discussed details of his medical troubles in open session.

Reading from a physician's report, presiding Judge Patrick Robinson said Milosevic had suffered "organ damage" to his left ventricle due to high blood pressure and that it would not be sensible for him to begin presenting his defense as originally planned.

Milosevic, who is defending himself, appeared relaxed and fit in the courtroom, and objected when Robinson began discussing his medical file but was overruled.

Steven Kay, one of the independent lawyers assigned to ensure a fair trial for Milosevic, said fresh medical evidence put the continuation of the case in question.

"It's quite clear over the past five months that his health had been gradually declining," Kay told the panel of three judges. Based on new medical reports, "he is plainly not fit enough this week," to appear in court.

Milosevic had been scheduled to give four-hour opening statement. His fragile health has repeatedly delayed the trial since it began in February 2002.

In his defense, Milosevic had been expected to deny responsibility for atrocities committed during the wars in Croatia, Bosnia and the Serbian province of Kosovo, and accuse Western governments of hypocrisy, in what he calls a trial motivated by politics rather than justice.

Milosevic, who insists in defending himself, suffers heart problems and related high blood pressure. On Friday, the tribunal announced a two-hour delay of the start of Monday's court session, but gave no explanation. The hearing actually began a further 15 minutes later.

The trial resumed after a four-month break since the prosecution wrapped up its case. Prosecutors questioned nearly 300 witnesses and introduced reams of documents, videos and other evidence.

Milosevic's courtroom performance may foreshadow what to expect from former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, the second former national leader to be accused of war crimes.

Milosevic has so far used his trial as an opportunity to grandstand for supporters at home, a situation U.S. and Iraqi authorities will be eager to avoid at Saddam's trial.

He has pleaded innocent to any wrongdoing, and is expected on Monday to challenge the authority of the court. His strategy will likely include an attempt to turn the tables and blame the U.N. member states that created the court, especially the United States and its NATO allies, for alleged war crimes of their own.

Despite his poor health, Milosevic has insisted on defending himself, greatly slowing the pace of his trial, which began in February 2002 and now reaches the halfway mark.

Source: agencies