Kosovo former PM on trial for war crimes

The trial of Kosovo's former Prime Minister has started at the UN tribunal.  Ramush Haradinaj is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the war against Serb forces in 1998 to 1999.

Ramush Haradinaj is charged with leading a campaign to drive Serbs and Roma from their villages and for attacks on ethnic Albanian and Roma civilians.

He was a regional commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army, also known as the “Black Eagles”, which fought against Belgrade-controlled forces in the Kosovo conflict.

Ramush Haradinaj and two other co-defendants face a total of 37 counts of crimes including persecutions, murder, torture and rape.

All three plead not guilty. They could face life sentences if convicted.
Haradinaj was indicted in 2005 while serving as Prime Minister of the Albanian-dominated Serbian province.