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French court delays decision on extradition of ex-Kosovo PM

Posted March 02, 2017 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Ramush Haradinaj, a former Kosovo prime minister, appears in court in Colmar, Thursday, March 2, 2017. The appeals court said that it was postponing a decision on the possible extradition of Haradinaj. French authorities had detained Haradinaj since Jan. 4 following a request from Serbia. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) The Associated Press

PARIS (AP) - A French court on Thursday delayed its decision on whether to extradite former Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj to Serbia, where he's wanted on war crimes charges.

The appeals court in the northeastern town of Colmar said it agreed with the prosecutor's request for more information. The case will be examined again on April 6.

Under a previous decision, Haradinaj must stay in France under judicial supervision while his case is being studied.

Serbia's government requested his extradition after French police arrested Haradinaj in January on a Serbian arrest warrant. The arrest angered Kosovo, where lawmakers called on the European Union to intervene to secure his release.

Haradinaj, a former guerrilla fighter in Kosovo's 1998-1999 war for independence from Serbia, was cleared of war crimes charges by a U.N. tribunal.

"My legal situation has been set up by the international court for former Yugoslavia, my arrest here is illegal, accusations are political, so taking 30 more days for this decision is really political," Haradinaj said as he left the courtroom.

Ramush Haradinaj, a former Kosovo prime minister, arrives in court in Colmar, Thursday, March 2, 2017. The appeals court said that it was postponing a decision on the possible extradition of Haradinaj. French authorities had detained Haradinaj since Jan. 4 following a request from Serbia. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) The Associated Press

Supporters of Ramush Haradinaj, a former Kosovo prime minister, center, celebrate as he leaves the Colmar courthouse, Thursday, March 2, 2017. The appeals court said that it was postponing a decision on the possible extradition of Haradinaj. French authorities had detained Haradinaj since Jan. 4 following a request from Serbia. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) The Associated Press

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