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Kosovo ex-PM Ramush Haradinaj cleared of war crimes Kosovo ex-PM Ramush Haradinaj cleared of war crimes
(about 1 hour later)
A UN war crimes tribunal has cleared former Kosovan Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj of war crimes dating back to 1998, after a retrial in The Hague. A UN tribunal has cleared Kosovo's former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj of war crimes from the 1998-99 conflict, after a retrial in The Hague.
Mr Haradinaj and two of his lieutenants from the Kosovo Liberation Army were accused of atrocities against Serb, Albanian and Roma civilians in 1998. Mr Haradinaj, a rebel commander during the war, was accused of overseeing a campaign of torture and murder against Serbs and suspected collaborators.
But the UN court ruled that the prosecution had not proved the case. But four years after the last acquittal the UN court ruled again that the prosecution had not proved the case.
He had been cleared of the crimes in 2008, but the verdict was quashed on the grounds of witness intimidation. Serbian officials reacted angrily, denouncing the UN tribunal.
Mr Haradinaj and co-defendants Idriz Balaj and Lahi Brahimaj were all cleared of the charges. President Tomislav Nikolic said in a statement quoted by Reuters agency that the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia was formed "to try the Serbian people".
The indictment alleged they had been involved in a joint criminal enterprise to establish KLA control in western Kosovo through detention camps. He said the verdict would increase euro-scepticism in Serbia.
Ethnic Serbs, and Albanians who were deemed to have collaborated with Serbs, were allegedly tortured and killed, with 39 bodies found. Mr Haradinaj's 2008 acquittal was overturned and a retrial ordered after appeal judges ruled that there had been witness intimidation.
But judges at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia found there was no evidence to say the three men participated in such a plan. But the ICTY's trial chamber once again cleared Mr Haradinaj and co-defendants Idriz Balaj and Lahi Brahimaj of all charges.
Serb anger The indictment alleged the three men had been involved in a joint criminal enterprise to establish Kosovo Liberation Army control in western Kosovo through detention camps.
Mr Haradinaj is the most senior ethnic Albanian indicted by the ICTY. Ethnic Serbs, Roma and Albanians who were deemed to have collaborated with Serbs were allegedly tortured and killed.
He has many supporters among the Kosovo Albanian community, and they had said the retrial was based on flimsy evidence. Judge Bakone Moloto said the evidence established that Serbs and their suspected supporters were beaten at a KLA compound in Kosovo, and at least one of them died of his injuries.
Mr Haradinaj served as prime minister for 100 days in late 2004 and 2005, before he stepped down to deal with his first trial. However, he said there was no evidence Mr Haradinaj or his co-defendants were involved in the attacks or a conspiracy to mistreat civilians.
Crowds in the capital Pristina celebrated his acquittal by letting off fireworks and cheering. Political ambitions
Analysts say he is now likely to continue his political career. Mr Haradinaj, who is the most senior ethnic Albanian indicted by the ICTY, has many supporters among the Kosovo Albanian community.
He served as prime minister for 100 days before he stepped down in early 2005 to deal with his first trial.
Crowds in the capital Pristina watched the latest verdict on a giant screen, and celebrated his acquittal by letting off fireworks and cheering.
Mr Haradinaj's lawyer, Ben Emmerson, said his client now wants to restart his political career.
"With the consent of the people, he will soon be resuming his rightful position as the political leader of the country," Mr Emmerson told reporters at the court.
His face is splashed across vast billboards in Kosovo, accompanied by slogans like "the leader who keeps his word" and "forward with a clean slate".His face is splashed across vast billboards in Kosovo, accompanied by slogans like "the leader who keeps his word" and "forward with a clean slate".
However, he is still considered a war criminal in Belgrade, and an arrest warrant has been issued against him by Serbia's war crimes prosecutor.However, he is still considered a war criminal in Belgrade, and an arrest warrant has been issued against him by Serbia's war crimes prosecutor.
Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade has enlisted the support of ally Russia to block any move for international recognition.Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade has enlisted the support of ally Russia to block any move for international recognition.
Before the verdict Serbian officials had warned that a not-guilty verdict would "jeopardise negotiations" between the two sides.
"Haradinaj's acquittal will distance us from reconciliation," said Oliver Antic, legal adviser to Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic.
Many Serbs feel there has been little accountability for crimes committed against them during the wars of the 1990s.Many Serbs feel there has been little accountability for crimes committed against them during the wars of the 1990s.