Ex-Kosovo Leader Facing War Crimes Trial

Kosovo's former prime minister Ramush Haradinaj looks on during a press conference in Kosovo's capital Pristina prior leaving for the U.N. court in The Hague, Netherlands, in this file photo taken on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007. Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, will appear before the U.N. war crimes tribunal on March 5 on charges of involvement in a criminal plot to expel Serbs and suspected Serb collaborators from a western Kosovo region using a campaign of murder, mistreatment and rape (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu) (Visar Kryeziu - AP)

A U.N. proposal would give Kosovo internationally supervised self-rule and the trappings of statehood _ including a flag, anthem, army and constitution. But it leaves both sides unhappy.

Many ethnic Albanians complain it falls short of full independence, while to most Serbs, losing Kosovo is unthinkable. They regard it as the heartland of their nationhood.

On Friday, Serb and ethnic Albanian negotiators emerged from talks "diametrically opposed," said U.N. mediator Martti Ahtisaari.

Last month, three U.N. vehicles were bombed in Pristina, and two people died in clashes between police and ethnic Albanians protesting the U.N. plan.

Afterward Haradinaj appeared on television to support the plan and appeal for calm. In the past, he was credited with stopping an angry mob from torching a historic Serb monastery.

Despite his popularity, Haradinaj's influence has been waning since his indictment and resentment of his lavish lifestyle has grown _ he lives in one of the biggest mansions in Pristina and enjoys Cuban cigars and expensive watches.

"Under the surface, there is a growing sense of cynicism about his wealth and the source of his wealth and that is counterbalancing his brief time as an effective prime minister," Anderson said.

Tribunal prosecutors have protested that his close links to U.N. administrators in Kosovo could deter witnesses from testifying against him.

Haradinaj returned to Kosovo to fight after spending time in western Europe, working in construction and as a nightclub bouncer.

After fighting ended, Haradinaj transformed himself from a tough KLA commander _ prosecutors say ruthless _ into a political leader and prime minister with a reputation for getting things done and keeping a lid on ethnic tensions.

When he was indicted he immediately resigned as prime minister and traveled to The Hague, where he declared his innocence. The U.N. court allowed him to return to Kosovo to await his trial and resume limited political activities.

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AP Correspondent Garentina Kraja contributed to this report from Pristina.