Interpol removes Kosovo premier from list of wanted persons

Released : Mar 24, 2006 5:55 AM

PARIS-Interpol has removed Kosovo’s recently named prime minister from its list of wanted persons because of his new status, the international police agency said Friday, though Serbia still accuses him of war crimes.

Interpol included former rebel commander Agim Ceku at the request of Serbia, but reviewed the case after Ceku was elected prime minister by Kosovo’s parliament earlier this month.

Interpol informed its member countries and the U.N. mission in Kosovo late Thursday that Ceku had been removed from the list, an Interpol official said.

The U.N. mission in Kosovo, which has said it does not recognize the Serbian warrant against Ceku, welcomed the decision.

Ceku and Hashim Thaci, also wanted by Serbian police, were leaders of the now-disbanded Kosovo Liberation Army, the guerrilla group that fought Serb forces during province’s 1998-1999 war. Both are now part of U.N.-sponsored talks to resolve the future status of the disputed province.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.