An American researcher has used statistics to counter war crimes defendant Slobodan Milosevic's claim that NATO bombing had killed thousands of people in Kosovo in 1999 and provoked thousands more to flee. 

Independent researcher Patrick Ball testified before The Hague War Crimes Tribunal Wednesday that Serb followers of Mr. Milosevic had killed and expelled thousands of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. 

Mr. Ball told the court that findings from an extensive study are consistent with Serb forces conducting systematic killings and expulsions. 

Mr. Ball's research was compiled from interviews, border registries, human rights groups and the United Nations. 

During his cross-examination, Mr. Milosevic, who is defending himself against 66 charges of war crimes and genocide in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, rejected the research and accused Mr. Ball of working for the interests of the United States. 

Mr. Milosevic has also rejected the jurisdiction of The Hague tribunal, refused to enter a plea and accused prosecutors of presenting half-truths and trying to manipulate witnesses. 

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