Kosovo's Albanian-dominated parliament elected former rebel commander Ramush Haradinaj yesterday as prime minister, ignoring western concern that he might be indicted for war crimes any day now.

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, whose government rejects Kosovo independence, called the move a provocation that exposed Kosovo to "a dangerous fait accompli and unilateral solutions".

He ordered an emergency cabinet meeting to be held today.

Mr Haradinaj, who was twice questioned recently by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague, was elected under a coalition deal which returned veteran leader Ibrahim Rugova for a second three-year term as president of the UN-administered province.

He pledged to improve the lot of Kosovo's beleaguered Serb minority and make the most of a newly created Ministry for Returns to help Serbs who fled Kosovo come back to their homes.

"We must build structures within that ministry... for the return of the displaced," he told Serb reporters, adding that his government would build public transport for Serbs.

Mr Haradinaj says he has nothing to be ashamed of in his role in the guerilla war against Serb strongman Slobodan Milosevic and will defend his record.