Lawyer: UN war crimes tribunal rejects release of former Kosovo prime minister during retrial

Lawyer: UN court rejects release of Kosovo’s ex-PM

PRISTINA, Kosovo — The lawyer for Kosovo’s former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj says the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal rejected his provisional release during his retrial on murder and torture charges.

Michael O’Reilly says he is “disappointed” with Friday’s decision.

No date has been set for the retrial ordered by the tribunal after Haradinaj, a former rebel commander, was cleared of charges in 2008. The tribunal said the initial proceedings had been marred by witness intimidation.

Haradinaj is accused of killing and torturing prisoners during the 1998-99 Kosovo war.

The ruling rejecting Haradinaj’s release deals a blow to his hopes of helping his opposition party stage a comeback in general elections expected next year.