Milosevic denies murder of ex-president

Slobodan Milosevic published an open letter in a Serbian newspaper yesterday denying any links to the murder of a political rival.

The seven-page handwritten letter from the former Yugoslav president claimed the authorities in Belgrade had accused him of domestic crimes to undermine his defence at his war crimes trial in The Hague, which resumes today after a month-long summer recess.

Mr Milosevic's letter, dated 17 August, showed that he can still spread his message to Serbs. He denied any knowledge of the murder of his predecessor as Serbian President, Ivan Stambolic, and of other crimes that rocked Serbia during his rule.

Investigative magistrates from Belgrade travelled to The Hague earlier this month to interview Mr Milosevic about Mr Stambolic's death. They rejected a demand from the former Yugolslav leader that his statement about Mr Stambolic be taped and aired so Mr Milosevic refused to give a statement at all.

Mr Stambolic was abducted and killed in August 2000. His body was found in a shallow grave last March. It is widely believed that Mr Milosevic and his once-powerful wife, Mira Markovic, ordered the crime, fearing Mr Stambolic's popularity. Mr Milosevic was ousted in October 2000.

Ms Markovic fled to Moscow in February. Serbian authorities want to question her in connection with the Stambolic murder, but have not received any response from Russian authorities. Ms Markovic also faces trial in Serbia for alleged financial abuses.

Mr Milosevic faces 66 charges at The Hague, including genocide, over his role in the wars that tore Yugoslavia apart in the 1990s. The trial began in February last year and experts believe the proceedings may continue until 2006.