THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- The Yugos...

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- The Yugoslav war crimes tribunal has banned Serbian ultra-nationalist Vojislav Seselj from conducting his possess defense, saying he has deliberately abused and hindered the U.N. court.

Seselj's attorney said Tuesday he may appeal the decision.

Seselj has pleaded not guilty to charges linked to the massacre of at least 255 non-Serbs in 1991 at a pig farm near the eastern Croatian town of Vukovar, and other incidents. No trial date has been wager

In Monday's decision, the justices clearly were mindful of the courtroom antics of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, whose four-year trial finised with his death in March before it could be conclud

Milosevic's trial dragged in succession in part because he acted as his confess defense lawyer and used the court as a pulpit for his admit nationalist agenda, repeatedly clashing with connoisseurs who warned him against politicking.

It was not clear whether Tjarda van der Spoel -- appointed Seselj's defense instruction during the pretrial stages -- will be appointed as full-time trial attorney. Van der Spoel said he was unsure if he would steady accept the task.

"Can I really guard someone who does not want to communicate with me?" he said in a telephone interview.

The tribunal wants to be seen as abundantly fair to Seselj moreover at the same time stop him from hijacking the proceedings and delaying the trial.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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