The request from Milosevic's defense counsel to withdraw from the case has been referred to the Trial Chamber

Steven Kay and Gillian Higgins’ request to withdraw as Milosevic's defense counsel was referred to the Trial Chamber hearing the case of the former president of Serbia and Yugoslavia, the Hague Tribunal announced today. The Trial Chamber will now deliberate and decide on the issue.

The decision signed by the Tribunal’s Deputy Registrar, John Hocking, states the request filed by the English lawyers "raises issues specific for the Milosevic case" and that, in light of the Trial Chamber’s 2 September 2004 order assigning counsel to the accused, it would be more appropriate to have the Chamber rule on it.

The main reason to support the English lawyers’ request is that the continued refusal of the accused to cooperate and give them instructions for the conduct of the defense could "compromise their professional integrity."

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