The convicted Croatian war criminal Slobodan Praljak has died after taking poison in court in The Hague.

Croatian state TV reported that he had died in hospital. He had been seen apparently drinking from a small bottle as his 20-year sentence was confirmed on appeal.

Proceedings at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in the Hague were suspended amid the drama.

Slobodan Praljak was one of six high-level wartime Bosnian Croat leaders appealing to the court. He had been given a 20-year sentence in 2013 for crimes in East Mostar.

Upon hearing that the original sentence had been upheld, the 72-year-old was seen appearing to swallow something while making an elaborate gesture.

"I am not a war criminal, I oppose this conviction," Praljak told the court.

"My client says he drank poison this morning," his defence lawyer Natasa Faveau-Ivanovic said.

The presiding judge suspended the hearing and called for a doctor. An ambulance was called and paramedics entered the court.

All six political and military leaders up before the court were convicted in 2013 of persecuting, expelling and murdering Muslims during the Bosnian war.

The case is the last judgment by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), established by the United Nations in 1993, before it closes next month.

Last week it convicted former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic of genocide and other crimes.

Following the reported death of war criminal Slobodan Praljak, Euronews has removed a video showing the moment he drinks poison in the UN tribunal.