Sawt Falasteen - Protesters march in Kosovo, as ex-president's war crimes trial nears end

The rally, held on the country's Independence Day, came ahead of the final hearing in the trial of its former president and political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), Hashim Thaci, along with three senior figures of the rebel movement.

Waving red flags emblazoned with the yellow and black crest of the KLA, crowds chanted the militia's name as they marched through Pristina's downtown.

Aerial images broadcast by local media showed protesters filling a main square and several surrounding streets. AFP reporters in the crowd estimated there were tens of thousands.

Organisers, who are members of Thaci's political party, said they expected attendance to reach over 200,000 with President Vjosa Osmani also joining the rally.

The trial of Thaci and other defendants before Kosovo's Specialist Chambers (KSC) in The Hague has been hearing closing statements for over a week -- the last stage before it retires to decide a verdict.

All four face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, over their alleged responsibility for killings, torture and other abuses committed by KLA members during the 1990s war.

The prosecutor is seeking a 45-year sentence for each.

- 'Our heroes' -

But the trial of the men, still viewed by many in Kosovo as war heroes, has drawn backlash.

"They are our heroes. They have to be released because Kosovo still needs them," architecture student, Daut Hasani, told AFP at the rally.

Ragip Ramadani, a pensioner who went to the protest from his home in the southern town of Dragash, said the court was not conducting a fair trial.

"It only prosecutes Albanians, but not those who committed the most serious crimes during the war," the 65-year-old said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Albin Kurti mentioned the accused in an address marking the 18th anniversary of independence, noting that "the contribution of each of them to freedom and independence is precious."

"History will be the one to make the right judgement," Kurti said.

- Serbia's role -

Evidence provided by Serbia, which has never recognised Kosovo's independence, is particularly sensitive due to the scale of atrocities committed by Serb police and military during the 1998-1999 conflict.

Thousands of ethnic Albanian victims were discovered in mass graves after the war, and a separate court has sentenced several former Serbian military and police officials for war crimes.

But the indictment against Thaci and the other defendants alleges that KLA members also committed crimes against hundreds of civilians and non-combatants at detention sites in Kosovo and northern Albania.

The victims, it says, included Serbs, Roma and Kosovo Albanians deemed political opponents.

Established by the country's parliament, the KSC investigates and prosecutes suspected war crimes committed by ethnic Albanian guerrillas during the war.

Although part of Kosovo's judicial system, it is physically located in The Hague and staffed solely by international judges in a bid to protect witnesses from possible retribution at home.

Closing statements from the accused, including Thaci, are scheduled for Wednesday.

G.AbuOdeh--SF-PST