UN Tribunal Orders Kosovo Albanian Leader Haradinaj Back To Cell

Deutsche Presse Agentur, 04:54 PM, February 2nd 2007

Former Kosovan prime minister Ramush Haradinaj has been ordered to return to his cell in The Hague while he awaits trial, the UN war crimes tribunal said Friday.

Haradinaj was to report back on February 26, ahead of a pre-trial conference on March 1, the tribunal said.

The trial of the former leading figure in the Kosovo Liberation Army on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity is to start on March 5.

Haradinaj surrendered voluntarily to the tribunal in March 2005 after resigning as prime minister, an office he held only briefly.

In June the same year, the tribunal decided to release him provisionally.

He has pleaded not guilty to 37 counts, including murder, persecution, membership of a criminal enterprise and failing to act against a subordinate who committed rape.

Haradinaj, who is seen as a hero by many Kosovans, was released from custody on condition that he did not engage in political activity.

In a controversial ruling, the tribunal later said he could make public appearances with the proviso that the UN authorities in Kosovo had to grant permission.