The Kosovo parliament elects on Friday Agim Ceku, a former guerrilla commander, as the Serbian province's new premier despite war crimes allegations against him from Serbia March 10, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters)

BELGRADE, March 10 (Xinhuanet) -- The Kosovo parliament elected on Friday Agim Ceku, a former guerrilla commander, as the Serbian province's new premier despite war crimes allegations against him from Serbia.

    Ceku was endorsed by 65 votes in the 120-seat parliament, while 33 MPs voted against him and five abstained, the official Tanjug news agency reported from Pristina.

    Ceku, 45, was a commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army during the 1998-99 Albanian guerrilla war for independence from Serbia. He also fought in Croatia's 1991-95 war for independence from Yugoslavia. In 2002, Serbian authorities issued a warrant for his arrest, accusing him of war crimes against Serbs.

    Speaking in fluent Serbian after election, Ceku said, "Kosovo belongs to everyone and all together we will create a society which guarantees freedom, equality and economic progress to all, regardless of nationality."

    Ceku replaces Bajram Kosumi, who resigned on March 1 for his lackluster performance in meeting standards set by the international community to create a functioning, multi-ethnic society. UN officials hope Ceku will drive necessary reforms before determining Kosovo's future status.

    Legally part of Serbia, Kosovo has been run by the United Nations since 1999. The first round of Kosovo's future status talks was held between Serbia and Kosovo in Vienna late February. The second round of talks is due to begin in Vienna on March 17. Enditem