Slobodan Milosevic’s appearance for the start of his defence case at his war crimes trial in The Hague looked in doubt yesterday after he was seen by a doctor to check his health, his lawyer said. The former Yugoslav president, due to launch his defence case at 0900 GMT in Europe’s biggest war crimes trial in half a century, was examined by a doctor early yesterday, his lawyer Zdenko Tomanovic said. Asked if the former Serb strongman would be in court, Tomanovic replied: “I don’t know. It depends on his health. I believe they will have only a small administrative status conference.”

Milosevic, who has had bouts of high blood pressure, flu and exhaustion since the trial began in February 2002, is due to launch his defence case by making an opening statement in court. “In my opinion the opening statement won’t be for one or two weeks,” Tomanovic said before the start of proceedings.

Charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s, Milosevic wants to summon former US President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the 150 working days he has been allotted for his case. Milosevic, who has described himself as a peacemaker in the Balkans, declined to enter a plea to the charges. Pleas of not guilty were entered on his behalf by the trial’s three judges.