EULEX detains self-confessed political killer

The EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, announced they had Nazim Blaca, who said he took part in murders of politicians in Kosovo, in custody. The ethnic Albanian was a member of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and the illegal Kosovo Information Service (SHIK), and made his first statement about his alleged involvement in a series of serious crimes a month ago. EULEX detains self-confessed political killer However, he was still free when he addressed reporters in front of the Kosovo assembly in Pristina on Sunday to say that the crimes he participated in, including murder, were done on behalf of the Hashim Thaci-led Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). EULEX spokeswoman Kristina Herodes told the Albanian language media in Pristina that an EULEX judge decided to put Blaca under arrest, and that he would be brought before a judge on Tuesday. Previously, EULEX announced that they had started an investigation into Blaca's testimony. According to his statement, the first victim of a group of SHIK executors was Sali Gashi, from the village of Varigoc near Lipljan, who was murdered in mid-June 1999. He also claims that the leader of the group of killers was Azem Sula, himself previously known as KLA "chief of staff". "I regret what I did since June 12, 1999. It's not a problem for me to face responsibility for it. It's about 17 cases of murder, attempted murder and intimidation," Blaca said. Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) – whose party officials are believed to have been among those targeted – asked for an urgent investigation into the allegations. EULEX chief Yves de Kermabon met with Hashim Thaci in Pristina on Monday. "We passed the test on November 15, and we will continue in that way on December 13," Thaci was quoted as saying, apparently in reference to the local elections in Kosovo. "We won't allow for this success to be interrupted and we are determined that each circumstance be shed light upon until the end. Neither the accused nor the accusers will be able to avoid responsibility and transparency in establishing law and order," stated Thaci. In a taped testimony, Blaca said he was not coerced into making his statements, and that he wished for them to serve as evidence in case he was murdered.

EULEX detains self-confessed political killer

However, he was still free when he addressed reporters in front of the Kosovo assembly in Priština on Sunday to say that the crimes he participated in, including murder, were done on behalf of the Hashim Thaci-led Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK).

EULEX spokeswoman Kristina Herodes told the Albanian language media in Priština that an EULEX judge decided to put Blaca under arrest, and that he would be brought before a judge on Tuesday.

Previously, EULEX announced that they had started an investigation into Blaca's testimony.

According to his statement, the first victim of a group of SHIK executors was Sali Gashi, from the village of Varigoč near Lipljan, who was murdered in mid-June 1999.

He also claims that the leader of the group of killers was Azem Sula, himself previously known as KLA "chief of staff".

"I regret what I did since June 12, 1999. It's not a problem for me to face responsibility for it. It's about 17 cases of murder, attempted murder and intimidation," Blaca said.

Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) – whose party officials are believed to have been among those targeted – asked for an urgent investigation into the allegations.

EULEX chief Yves de Kermabon met with Hashim Thaci in Priština on Monday.

"We passed the test on November 15, and we will continue in that way on December 13," Thaci was quoted as saying, apparently in reference to the local elections in Kosovo.

"We won't allow for this success to be interrupted and we are determined that each circumstance be shed light upon until the end. Neither the accused nor the accusers will be able to avoid responsibility and transparency in establishing law and order," stated Thaci.

In a taped testimony, Blaca said he was not coerced into making his statements, and that he wished for them to serve as evidence in case he was murdered.