Bulgaria releases Kosovo ex-PM Ceku

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.