Trial halted as Mladic in hospital for medical tests

RATKO Mladic's genocide trial was halted yesterday for a second day running because the former Bosnian Serb military commander was undergoing medical tests and under observation after being rushed to a hospital a day earlier.

Mladic's seat in the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal courtroom was empty as the trial briefly resumed. Tribunal spokeswoman Nerma Jelacic said that Mladic was discharged from a hospital and sent back to his cell.

"Ratko Mladic has returned to the detention unit after medical examinations confirmed there were no abnormalities in his health status and that no treatment is required," Jelacic said. "The previous determination that Mladic is fit to stand trial therefore remains unchanged."

Mladic's lawyer said he initially feared the 70-year-old former general had a stroke when he complained of feeling ill in court on Thursday, but that tests had ruled that out.

"Now we think either it's a high level of sugar in his blood or high blood pressure."

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