Ex-Guerrilla Haradinaj Becomes Kosovo PM-Designate

Kosovo's president on Thursday tapped former rebel fighter and ex-premier Ramush Haradinaj to form a new government, following three months of political stalemate since elections in June.

"Through a decree I have appointed Mr Ramush Haradinaj," President Hashim Thaci announced on his Facebook page.

Haradinaj belongs to the so-called "war wing" coalition, comprising the old guard of ex-guerrilla fighters, who won the most votes in the June 11 election but did not secure the majority needed to govern alone.

For months the alliance -- led by Thaci's PDK party -- has blocked the election of a speaker in parliament which prevented the formation of a new government.

But the vote finally went ahead on Thursday after the PDK rallied the support of a smaller party, paving the way for the prime minister-designate announcement.

Haradinaj, whose appointment must now be endorsed by parliament, was a commander in the pro-independence Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during the 1998-1999 conflict against Serbian forces.

He went on to become prime minister in 2004 but resigned soon after when he was indicted for war crimes by a U.N. tribunal in The Hague, which eventually acquitted him.

Nicknamed "Rambo" by his comrades-in-arms for his muscular physique and military prowess, the 49-year-old is considered a hero by many ethnic Albanians in Kosovo but is seen as a war criminal by Serbs.

Once in place his government will face the task of restarting stalled dialogue with Serbia to "normalize" relations.

Serbia does not recognize the independence of Kosovo, unilaterally declared in 2008.