KFOR: OVPMB CHIEF COMMANDER MUSLIU RELEASED AFTER SURRENDER

PRISTINA, May 26 (Hina) - The chief commander of the liberation army of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac (OVPMB), Shefket Musliu, who surrendered to international peace keepers in Kosovo (KFOR) on Saturday morning, was set free later in the day, KFOR sources reported on Saturday. Musliu, who signed with Serbian side an agreement on Albanian guerrillas' disarmament in the Presevo valley, turned himself in to KFOR this morning. Two his close aides also surrendered. Their voluntary surrender was described by a KFOR spokesman, Axel Jandestek, as a good sign of the OVPMB's readiness to keep its promise about demilitarisation and demobilisation. Spokesman Jandestek quoted Musli as saying that when they had laid down arms it was time the war ended in the Presevo valley. To date, 480 OVPMB troops have turned themselves in to the international peace keepers in Kosovo. Near the boundary-line between Kosovo and southern Serbia on Saturday afternoon, KFOR showed to reporters five tractor trailers loaded with weapons and ammunition which armed Albanians handed over to international peacekeepers on Friday. Riza Halimi, Presevo mayor, who took part in negotiations which led to the conclusion of the 21 May peace agreement, on Saturday said the demilitarisation of the Presevo valley would be completed with this day. Halimi asserted that there were no OVPMB members on the ground. He accused Serbia of failing to comply fully with the deal. (hina) ms