ROME — The most senior Kosovo Albanian suspect to be prosecuted by the U.N. war crimes tribunal was cleared Thursday of all counts involving the murder and torture of Serb civilians.
The decision to acquit and free Ramush Haradinaj, a former guerrilla commander and prime minister of Kosovo, was met with joy and cheers in the breakaway province, but fury in Serbia, where the credibility of the tribunal was immediately assailed.
The trial drew special attention because United Nations officials gave preferential treatment to Haradinaj, a favored U.S. ally.
Haradinaj, 39, and two co-defendants were accused of mounting a “widespread and systematic campaign” to abuse, kill and expel Serbs and other minorities in 1998 during the Kosovo Albanians’ fight to end Serbian rule.
