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War Crimes Prosecutors to Interview Kosovo President

VOA News

   Kosovo President Hashim Thaci will go to The Hague on Monday to be
   interviewed by international war crimes prosecutors.

   Thaci was a top commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army, which fought a
   guerrilla war for independence from Serbia in the late 1990s. He
   announced his appearance on his Facebook page on Wednesday.

   Aspecialinternational courthas indictedThaciand other former fighters
   for alleged warcrimesby the KLA, including murder, kidnapping and
   torture.Thacihas denied thecharges.

   "While my compatriots as well as me will face international justice
   with dignity and integrity, I call upon you to stand united in dealing
   with the challenges that our country is facing,"he saidon Facebook.

   A pretrial judge in the Kosovo Specialist Chambers has yet to decide
   whether to put Thaci and the others on trial or throw out the case.

   Thaci has told Kosovars that if he is tried, he will "will immediately
   resign as your president and face the accusations."

   Thaci's indictment forced the cancellation of last month's White House
   peace talks between Kosovar and Serbian leaders.

   Serbia has refused to recognize an independent Kosovo. NATO
   peacekeepers remain in Kosovo to prevent tension between the two sides
   from exploding into violence.

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