[JURIST] The registrar of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has expressed concern [press release] over the refusal of Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect Zdravko Tolimir [ICTY case backgrounder, PDF] to accept medical treatment in prison while awaiting trial. Hans Holthuis described the situation as "fragile and highly alarming" and told the tribunal in a submission [PDF text] Friday that Tolimir is suffering from a brain aneurysm and a serious heart condition. Holthuis has requested that the ICTY fully investigate Tolimir's health and determine whether he remains competent to represent himself at trial.

Tolimir was arrested [JURIST report] in May by Bosnian police and was extradited to The Hague [JURIST report] in June. The ICTY may be expressing special concern over his health after war crimes suspect Slobodan Milosovic died from heart failure [JURIST report] in 2006 while in detention at The Hague. The UN News Centre has more.