Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 6:13pm
The U.N. war crimes tribunal cleared Kosovo's former prime minister on Thursday of persecuting Serbs in a 1998-99 separatist war, a move expected to fan tensions simmering over Kosovo's secession.
Ramush Haradinaj, a former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) considered a hero by Kosovo Albanians, was acquitted of torture, murder, rape and deportation after judges found prosecutors had failed to prove a deliberate campaign to kill and expel Serb civilians from Kosovo.
"This is a verdict that strengthens Kosovo. We endured a difficult liberation struggle that cost many lives. Today we are a free and sovereign nation," Haradinaj said in a statement, adding he would dedicate his life to equal opportunities to all.
Kosovo's 90 percent Albanian majority declared independence from Serbia in February. The United Nations has run the province since 1999 when NATO drove out Serb forces to halt the ethnic cleansing of Albanians in a two-year war against KLA guerrillas.