Ahmed Dogan, honorary lifetime leader Bulgaria's liberal, predominantly ethnic Turkish party, DPS, wants to be removed as a witness in the case against his attacker Oktay Enimehmedov.

BGNES reported Monday that the announcement was made during a hearing in the Sofia City Court.

The Court received a request from Ahmed Dogan, accompanied by a doctor's note, in which he writes he wished to be removed as a witness because of his ailing health.

The magistrates have also received Dogan's health and medical exams records, which they requested last Wednesday, along with a memo from his physician, who explained he was of the opinion that testifying in the case would be detrimental to the condition of the former DPS leader.

Last Wednesday, the Court refused once again to change the arrest measure of Oktay Enimehmedov and he remains in custody. The judges said then that there was no danger that Enimehmedov will hide, but there was a risk to commit another offense.

It was reported meanwhile that Lyutvi Mestan, the current DPS leader and Dogan's successor, has appeared in Court Monday to testify in the trial against Enimehmedov, the man who pointed a gas pistol at the party's honorary chairman.

Key Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, lawmaker Ramadan Atalay is also in the courtroom.

On January 19, police detained 25-year-old Oktay Enimehmedov after he pointed a gas pistol at Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Ahmed Dogan as the latter was delivering his resignation speech at a party conference in Sofia. No shots were fired.

Enimehmedov was indicted on attempted murder charges. He was also charged with "indecent actions that are grossly violating the public order and showing clear lack of respect for society."

The Sofia City Court postponed the first hearing in the trial back on August 14 and the second on September 24, as Dogan failed to show up in court. It emerged on October 16 that he has produced another sick note, as he did on the previous two occasions.

Last Wednesday, however, the magistrates proceeded with the questioning of witnesses