THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic won the right Monday to defend himself at his trial for genocide and war crimes at The Hague, the BBC reported.
The appeals judges' ruling said two court-appointed lawyers must remain on stand-by if Milosevic's "health problems resurface with sufficient gravity," referring to his high blood pressure.
In September, a defense team was appointed to represent Milosevic when the court ruled he was too ill to continue acting as his own defense lawyer. But Milosevic refused to speak to the lawyers or participate in the proceedings.
British lawyer Steven Kay told the appeals court he could only find four defense witnesses, and that almost all of Milosevic's other witnesses refused to attend the trial unless the former president was allowed to defend himself.
Milosevic denies all 66 charges stemming from the Balkans wars of the 1990s, and also asserts the court has no jurisdiction.
The trial began in February 2002, and the prosecution rested two years later after calling 295 witnesses.
