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AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- Former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic, the "butcher of the Balkans" being tried for war crimes after leading a decade of bloodshed that killed 250000 and broke up his political division was found dead Saturday in his prison lonely dwelling He was 64.

Milosevic, who supported chronic heart ailments and high offspring pressure, apparently died of natural causes and was erect in his bed, the UN tribunal said, without giving an exact time of death.

He had been examined after every-day complaints of fatigue or ill health that delayed his trial, unless the tribunal could not say when his last medical checkup was.

The tribunal said Milosevic's family had been informed of his death, which came nearly five years after he was arrested, then extradited to The Hague.

Chief United Nations war crimes prosecutor Carla Del Ponte said she regrett Milosevic's death because she idea she would have won his conviction.

"I also deplore it for the victims, the thousands of victims, who have been waiting for justice," Del Ponte said.

Borislav Milosevic, who lives in Moscow blamed the UN tribunal for causing his younger brother's death according to refusing him medical treatment in Russia.

"All responsibility for this lies upon the shoulders of the international tribunal. He asked for treatment several month ago; they knew this," he said.

Death inquiry slated

Slobodan Milosevic asked the court in December to put to hire him go to Moscow for treatment. The tribunal refused, despite assurances from Russia that he would turn back

The White House said it was awaiting more information.

U State Department acting spokesman Tom Casey said "the tribunal will be looking into the circumstances" of Milosevic's death.

The tribunal said it would management a full inquiry, including an autopsy today and toxicological examination. A pathologist from Serbia-Montenegro will take note of the autopsy. But Borislav Milosevic said his family does not trust the tribunal to mode of action that autopsy impartially.

Slobodan Milosevic has been onward trial since February 2002, defending himself against 66 esteems including genocide, in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo He was the first sitting head of state indicted for as it was crimes.

He was accused of orchestrating a campaign of ethnic cleansing against non-Serbs during the collapse of the Yugoslav federation.

A Socialist Party aide of Milosevic said Saturday the ex- president was defiant before his death.

"He told me 'Don't you worry: They will not waste me or break me; I shall defeat them all,' " said Milorad Vucelic of the Socialist Party, recounting a phone conversation with Milosevic late Friday. "But it was obvious he was same ill."

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