Kosovo: UN 'distressed' over flight of Austrian police officer wanted for questioning

The United Nations was "very distressed" that an Austrian police officer wanted for questioning by the judicial authorities of Kosovo had left the area without the permission or knowledge of the UN Interim Administration Mission (UNMIK), a UN spokesman said today in New York.

Responding to a question about reports in today's Washington Post that an Austrian police officer suspected of abusing a Kosovo Albanian had escaped UN custody, spokesman Fred Eckhard told a press briefing that the investigative judge and the prosecutor in Kosovo were in Prizren today interviewing witnesses to the incident.

"No charges have been filed yet," Mr. Eckhard said. "The case is before the court and the law must take its course."

The United Nations is governing Kosovo and has set up an independent judiciary in the territory, the spokesman noted, but declined to comment further while the investigation is going forward.