Basota: I, Jakup Krasniqi and Azem Syla have resigned as there was resentment from the commanders of the area

It's been talked about having a grudge with my appointment and the Jakup and Azem Syla, the commanders of the zones. But later it was featured at a meeting that was held in Licoc”, Basota said, when faced with a statement by Ramush Haradinaj, who had demanded from Staff to know of Jakup Krasniqi's appointment criteria in this position.

The witness was then presented with some notes of a meeting conducted by the commanders of the general staff on January 21, 1999. The witness said he couldn't remember if he was.

According to lawyer Alagedra in order of this meeting's day, the document says that criticism is behind the general staff's arrangement.

While in the February 6, 1999, the lawyer said she wrote that Sylejman Selimi has said the appointments made at the General Staff are disturbing and that Sokol Basota is not at the deputy commander's level. According to Sylejman Selimi, Staff has ignored requests made by local commanders.

And for Jakup Krasniqi, he had said that with all due respect, he does not deserve the post as deputy commander”.

He had also said that if these two persons, including the accused and the witness, remain in that position, he would not report the General Staff until new appointments are made. Similarly, Sylejman Selimi had said he would also contest his post as zone commander.

I, Azem Syla and Jakup Krasniqi have resigned from our positions as a result of the request of the area commanders. We've given the reasons here why we've taken this act. We discussed that meeting that Jakup may not have resigned. They begged me not to resign as much as I can remember, but after that time he went to Rambouille and I don't know if he'd trained me as deputy commander or not, said Basota.

After his resignation, Basota said he has no longer dealt with members of the General Staff and that he knows when the round-up of Jakup Krasniqi in Kosovo happened.

In Wessel's defence questions through lawyer Rodney Dixon, the witness was also asked about Sokol Dobrun, who he claimed was the head of judicial service in late 1998.

The witness claimed his role was to care for the organisation or establishment of a professional legal service within the KLA.

I don't know the description of his work that I never had contact with him for his work. I don't know if he has any business at the time with his staff that he's had a staff at the time, that are dixutate with General Staff”, he said.

The Witness said that in February 1999 he has resigned from his position in the General Staff and that he has not been able to see the work of Dobruna.

Dobruna said it is accurate since November 1998, there was no KLA Military Police Director.

November 5, 98, that's correct. I believe there's a cop behind it, he said.

Questions for the witness did not have the defence of Rexhep Selimi, who is represented by Geoffrey Roberts. /Betimi for Justice/