Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Monday lifted the immunity of a prominent legislator last week convicted of war crimes against Serbs.

A court in Zagreb on Friday sentenced Branimir Glavas, 52, to 10 years in prison for the murder of Serbs during Croatia's war for independence from Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

A close ally of Croatia's late president Franjo Tudjman, Glavas was the effective ruler of the eastern Croatian city of Osijek during the war, when the murders occurred.

Glavas, who holds both Croatian and Bosnian passports, fled to neighbouring Bosnia earlier last week. He has not yet been declared a fugitive.

Police will issue a warrant for his arrest after parliament formally informs the authorities that Glavas' immunity has been lifted. (dpa)