Milosevic died of natural causes - France

SALZBURG, Austria, March 11 (Reuters) France said today that Slobodan Milosevic, who died in UN custody in the Hague, was the main architect of the Balkan wars and ethnic cleansing that killed tens of thousands of people.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told reporters Milosevic had died of natural causes.

In a statement at an EU foreign ministers meeting just after news of Milosevic's death was confirmed, he said: ''With the death of Milosevic, one of the main actors if not the the main actor in the Balkan wars of the late 20th century.'' ''I would like to spare a thought for all those who suffered so much from ethnic cleansing, tens of thousands of men, women and children, which Milosevic conceived and planned.'' REUTERS CH RK1830