THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic called his first defense witness Tuesday at his trial for war crimes and genocide, the BBC reported.
The first of more than 1,000 witnesses Milosevic wants to testify was Smilja Avramov, a retired Serbian law professor and ultra-nationalist, who said Western-trained "terrorists" had worked to break up the former Yugoslavia. She was an adviser to Milosevic during the 1990s Balkan wars and took part in negotiations between Croatia and Serbia.
British lawyers Steven Kay and Gillian Higgins are overseeing proceedings on behalf of Milosevic, who has been deemed unfit to defend himself because of increasing problems with his blood pressure. Milosevic is only permitted to question witnesses after his lawyers have completed their questioning.
Milosevic wants to call more than 1,000 witnesses, but it is unlikely there will be sufficient time during the 150 trial days allotted for his defense.
