Bulgaria court frees Serb suspect

Cedomir Brankovic was detained in Sofia

A Bulgarian court has ordered the release of Serbian war crimes suspect Cedomir Brankovic.

The court in Sofia said Tuesday's arrest of Mr Brankovic was unlawful because he had diplomatic immunity as a member of Serbia's official delegation. The Bulgarian interior ministry it would appeal against the ruling.

Mr Brankovic has been sentenced by Croatia, in his absence, to 20 years in jail for crimes against humanity during the war in the former Yugoslavia.

Mr Brankovic served as the commander of a former Yugoslav army battalion which carried out attacks on several villages in 1991.

He denies all the charges.