The Hague war crimes tribunal said today the prosecution would conclude its two-year-old case against former Serbian and Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic next Monday and Tuesday.
It had been due to wrap up its arguments this week but proceedings were cancelled due to Milosevic's poor health.
Prosecutors have called more than 290 witnesses in what is regarded as Europe's most significant war crimes trial since leading Nazis were tried at Nuremberg after World War Two.
The 62-year-old is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s. He is due to start his defence on May 19th. If he takes as long as the prosecution, the trial will run into 2006.
Mr Milosevic, who described himself as a peacemaker in the Balkans and does not recognise the court, has dismissed the 66 counts against him as politically motivated lies and has declined to plead. Pleas of "not guilty" were entered on his behalf.
During his trial he has suffered from periodic bouts of high blood pressure, flu and exhaustion.
He was examined by a cardiologist in 2002 but refused to undergo a psychiatric examination ordered by judges more than a year ago to assess the toll the trial was taking on his mental health.