KOSOVO: Former guerrilla commander Agim Ceku was nominated as Kosovo's new prime minister yesterday, after Bajram Kosumi resigned amid widespread criticism of his leadership during crucial talks on the province's bid for independence from Serbia.
"I find that the correct and moral thing to do is to resign from the post of prime minister," Mr Kosumi announced after coming under domestic and international pressure to step down.
"The government, during its one year of work, has achieved a lot of success, the biggest being the start of negotiations," he added, referring to UN-brokered talks on Kosovo's future that began eight days ago, and which heightened fears over Mr Kosumi's ability to lead the region after the death of iconic president Ibrahim Rugova in January.
Mr Kosumi handed his resignation to President Fatmir Sejdiu after he lost support in his own Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) party and among western mediators.
The AAK quickly nominated former guerrilla commander Lt Gen Ceku (45) to be the new premier, a choice that Mr Sejdiu is expected to endorse.
The AAK said he would "lead Kosovo with dedication towards the achievement of our common goal of an independent and sovereign state"; but it could enrage Serbia, which has a warrant pending for his arrest.
Lt Gen Ceku now heads the Kosovo Protection Corps, a civil emergency unit mostly comprising former guerrillas of the 1998-99 Kosovo war.
He is seen as a political heavyweight in the mould of Mr Kosumi's predecessor, Ramush Haradinaj, another former guerrilla commander who resigned a year ago to stand trial at the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.
Martti Ahtisaari, the chief UN negotiator for Kosovo, appeared sanguine about the changes.
"It's none of my business," he said.
