Yugoslavia takes first step towards international trial for Milosevic

Yugoslavia has moved closer to handing over Slobodan Milosevic for an international trial on Kosovo war crimes, taking the first legal step required for his transfer to the United Nations court in The Hague.

Yugoslav Justice Minister Momcilo Grubac forwarded to a local court the UN tribunal's request for the ex-President's transfer, as he is required to do under a decree passed at the weekend by the Yugoslav Government.

Lawyers representing the former President said they would try to prevent the country's new reformist authorities from sending him to the tribunal.

The decree says the court must inform the justice ministry within three days of the result of the tribunal's request.