Mr Slobodan Milosevic today heard judges and lawyers at The Hague tribunal debate which witnesses and evidence could be used at his February trial for crimes against humanity in Kosovo.
The former Yugoslav leader, making his final pre-trial appearance, looked calm and relaxed as court officials discussed the nuts and bolts of the prosecution's case. Mr Milosevic refuses to recognise the war crimes tribunal.
Mr Milosevic is due to go on trial on February 12th, accused of responsibility for a Serb campaign of mass killings and expulsions of ethnic Kosovo Albanians in 1999. He is set to face a separate trial on charges of crimes against humanity and genocide in Croatia in 1991 and in Bosnia in 1992-95.
The 60-year-old ousted Yugoslav president, who lost power to reformists in Belgrade after 2000 elections, has branded the court "illegal" and the charges against him "monstrous." He has chosen not to appoint defense counsel.
The court has entered not guilty pleas on his behalf to all three indictments and appointed three prominent international lawyers as "amici curiae" or "friends of the court" to ensure he has a fair trial.
