Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has appeared before the UN war crimes tribunal to be formally charged with crimes against humanity.
Milosevic -- the first head of state to face trial in The Hague -- did not have legal representation, having said he did not recognise the authority of the tribunal.
He told the tribunal: "I consider this tribunal false and the indictment false. It is illegal so I have no need to appoint counsel."
At his first appearance before the tribunal on Tuesday, not guilty pleas were entered on Milosevic's behalf by the court after he refused to enter one himself.
He faces charges of crimes against humanity stemming from the Yugoslav campaign against ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo.
Presiding judge Richard May had asked Milosevic if he wished to re-consider his decision not to appoint counsel as the proceedings were expected to be "long and complex."
Under court rules, the accused has the choice of having the indictments read out. Milosevic replied: "That's your problem."
His response was regarded as a waiver of his rights by the court and the indictments were not read out.
Milosevic refused to enter a plea, saying: "This trial aims to produce false justification for war crimes of NATO committed in Yugoslavia."
Throughout the hearing, Milosevic tried to make speeches but the judge cut him off politely.
In Belgrade up to 15,000 supporters gathered last night to protest against his transfer outside the federal government buildings.
Ignoring a ban on the gathering the participants, mainly members of Milosevic's Socialist Party and the ultra-nationalist Radical Party listened to speeches and nationalist songs.
Milosevic believes he was transferred illegally to The Hague and that he was essentially kidnapped from his homeland.
He is accused of crimes against humanity for actions carried out by the Yugoslav Army and Serbian security forces in Kosovo in 1999, including murder, deportation and prosecution of people on political, racial and ethnic grounds. He faces life in prison if convicted of any of the four charges.
Milosevic's advisors have said he feels he was acting in the best interests of his country.
Since his extradition last Thursday, Milosevic has spoken to his wife three times during what were described as seven-minute conversations. He had no visitors until the meeting with his lawyer.
Milosevic's allies in Belgrade say that the former president, who was forced from power in October, believes he is being persecuted because he stood up to NATO, refusing to sign a power-sharing deal with Kosovo Albanians in 1999.
NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia continued for 78 days, which ended with the withdrawal of Yugoslav forces from Kosovo and the handing over of the Serbian province to the United Nations and NATO.
(Chinadaily.com.cn 07/03/2001)
