Serb suspect ends hunger strike

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The ultra-nationalist Serbian leader Vojislav Seselj has ended his hunger strike after nearly a month, the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague says.

Mr Seselj began his protest on 11 November to press several demands, including the right to defend himself.

The tribunal says his trial will be suspended until he is fit enough to attend as a self-represented accused.

He is charged with the murder and expulsion of non-Serbs in former Yugoslavia in the wars of the 1990s.

He is accused of having formed a joint criminal enterprise with the late Serbian President, Slobodan Milosevic, to create an ethnically pure Greater Serbia.

Mr Seselj denies the charges.

The trial judges had appointed counsel to represent him, but his appeal against their decision was upheld by the court's appeal chamber this week.

Mr Seselj had refused to be seen by doctors representing the tribunal, but the court stepped in on Wednesday.

A doctor who examined him said he could die within two weeks if he persisted with his protest.

"Vojislav Seselj has informed the tribunal that he will resume taking foodstuffs and receive medical attention," the court said in a statement on Friday.

"The trial of Seselj is suspended until such time as he is fit enough to fully participate in the proceeding as a self-represented accused," the court added.