Kosovo premier indicted, resigns
(CNN) -- A U.N. tribunal has indicted Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj for war crimes against Serbs, a move that prompted his resignation, authorities told CNN.
A spokesman for Haradinaj said Tuesday the prime minister "received an indictment" from the war crimes court "this morning and has now tendered his resignation."
"He plans to travel to The Hague tomorrow," where he is expected to cooperate with the tribunal.
The court, located at The Hague in the Netherlands, confirmed an indictment had been issued but released no further details.
The charges are sealed for the time being and will be revealed in coming days when proceedings begin.
"I am one of those accused," The Associated Press quoted Haradinaj as saying, suggesting others also had been indicted. "As a result of this indictment I have resigned."
Haradinaj's selection as prime minister late last year was immediately opposed by the government of Serbia-Montenegro.
A former rebel leader of ethnic Albanian forces during the Serb-Albanian fighting in Kosovo, Haradinaj is considered a war criminal by the Serbs, who have issued indictments against him. However, Albanians regard him as a hero.
Fighting raged at the end of the 1990s in Kosovo, an autonomous region in southern Serbia.
It has been under U.N. administration since 1999, when NATO forces drove out mainly Serbian Yugoslavs during bloody fighting between the province's majority Albanians and minority Serbs.
Soren Jessen-Petersen, head of the U.N. Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), said he respects Haradinaj's decision but can't "hide the fact that his departure will leave a big gap."
He said Haradinaj's decision to cooperate despite maintaining his innocence is a mark of Kosovo's "growing political maturity."
"Thanks to Ramush Haradinaj's dynamic leadership, strong commitment and vision, Kosovo is today closer than ever before to achieving its aspirations in settling its future status. Personally, I am saddened to no longer be working with a close partner and friend."
Jessen-Petersen said Haradinaj "has once again put the interests of Kosovo above his own personal interests."
"It is important that the people of Kosovo respond with the same dignity and maturity as that shown by Ramush Haradinaj. "
Noting that the move may upset many Kosovars, Jessen-Petersen urged them to channel their disagreement in a peaceful manner.
"A violent response will not help Kosovo. It will only serve the interests of those determined to block Kosovo's way forward. It will be a major setback to everything Kosovo has achieved recently and it will defeat all the recent achievements, notably those reached during Mr. Haradinaj's leadership."
Jessen-Petersen said the region's deputy prime minister will now head the government.
"Meanwhile, I will work with the political leaders of Kosovo to make sure that, as soon as possible, there is a government in place that can continue, without delay and disruption, the work that will bring Kosovo towards a comprehensive review of standards this summer and into status talks later this year."
CNN International Assignment Editors Gaven Morris and Eileen Hsieh contributed to this report
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Associated Press contributed to this report.
