THE HAGUE, Feb 21: An aging Kosovo farmer, going blow-for-blow with Slobodan Milosevic at his war crimes trial here, accused the former Serbian strongman Thursday of “unimaginable” cruelty towards ethnic Albanians.

Fehim Elshani, 67, took the stand minutes after one of his compatriots pleaded ill health and refused to answer any more questions from Milosevic, who is defending himself before the UN tribunal.

The withdrawal of 49-year-old Agim Zeqiri, the first victim called, was a new setback for the prosecution. Judges suggested his failure to complete cross-examination could compromise the value of his testimony.

Elshani was clearly on edge and steadfastly kept his gaze turned from Milosevic. But the wiry Albanian Kosovar with a balding pate and thin moustache turned out to be a combative witness.—AFP