Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Bulgaria releases Kosovo ex-PM Ceku

|
|
 
  
Published: June 26, 2009 at 10:01 AM

SOFIA, Bulgaria, June 26 (UPI) -- A Bulgarian court released former Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku from detention following his arrest on war crimes charges lodged by Serbia, officials said.

However, the court in Kyustendil in western Bulgaria, ordered Ceku, 59, not to leave the country pending a possible appeal, the Bulgarian news agency SNA reported Friday.

Bulgarian police arrested Ceku Tuesday and the Serbian Justice Ministry asked authorities for extradition.

Ceku's release late Thursday provoked disappointment in Belgrade where Serbian President Boris Tadic said the action hurt relations with Bulgaria, Belgrade's B92 Web site said.

Ceku was detained on a Serbian arrest warrant after entering Bulgaria from Macedonia. The warrant accuses Ceku of war crimes he allegedly committed as commander of the ethnic Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army fighting Serbia's military and police in 1999.

At a hearing, Ceku denied the Serbian charges, SNA said.

The predominantly ethnic Albanian Kosovo province unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008.

Topics: Agim Ceku
Recommended Stories
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 21
President Obama Signs Smuggling Prevention Act at White House
View Caption
fark
Kim Jong Un Dead. I repeat - Un Dead
Nothing is more romantic on Valentine's Day than taking your lover on a tour of New York's sewers...
Man arrested for writing 'bomb' on some toilet paper. "His family says the word 'bomb' is often...
Now that gay marriage is legal in California, the state's Health Department thought it was necessary...
Scientists discover a drug designed to fight cancer reverses Alzheimer's in mice. Still no cure...
Cutting out the middle man ... antiques dealer with late stage cancer hosting her own estate sale...