Milosevic illness holds up trial

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- The war crimes trial of Slobodan Milosevic has been adjourned until April 8 as the former Yugoslav leader recovers from 'flu.

The trial has been on hold since March 18 after Milosevic was diagnosed with influenza, five weeks into his trial at the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague.

It had been hoped the 60-year-old's case involving charges of genocide and crimes against humanity in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo could resume this Thursday but these were later dashed.

Hague tribunal spokesman Jim Landale told Reuters: "He is still recovering from the flu.

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"He is still not well enough to sit in court and we feel he needs the rest of the week off to recover sufficiently."

The postponement until April 8 will take in the Easter holidays.

Milosevic, who has been in detention in The Hague since last June, has been treated at the tribunal's Hague detention facility.

Milosevic has vigorously cross-examined witnesses since his trial started on February 12 after opting to defend himself against charges he has rejected as false.

He does not recognise the court and declined to plead to the charges against him, forcing the court's judges to enter not guilty pleas on his behalf.

It is the biggest war crimes trial to have been held since the Nuremberg trials at the end of World War II.