Three years after the US-led 78 day bombing of Yugoslavia, the International War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague beganits trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic today . He is officially charged with genocide and crimesagainst humanity in a number of indictments spanning from the wars in Croatia and Bosnia to the fighting in Kosovo.

No American or NATO official has been charged by the tribunal for the bombing of Yugoslavia which killed hundreds ofcivilians, including 16 journalists from Radio Television Serbia, after US war planes bombed the TV station incentral Belgrade. Since his extradition to the Hague, Milosevic has maintained his innocence and has accused theHague court of being a political tool of NATO and a private court for American justice.

Milosevic is defending himself at the Hague and has said he may issue subpoenas for former US President Bill Clinton,former Secretary of State Madeline Albright and General Wesley Clarke.

Guests:

• Ljiljana Smajlovic, reporter for the Serbian magazine, Nin. She is one of Yugoslavia’s leadingcolumnists. She is currently in The Hague covering the beginning of Milosevic’s trial at the UN War Crimes Tribunal.
• Aleksa Djilas, Yugoslav author and writer. He is the son of the famous dissident under Marshall Tito,Milovan Djilas.