Oslo  - A man suspected of war crimes in Kosovo was ordered detained in custody for a month by an Oslo court on Wednesday, the day after he was arrested in central Norway.

The 39-year old man will initially to be held for four weeks, the Norwegian news agency NTB reported.

His defence lawyer said the man, who was not named, denied allegations that he took part in various crimes and set fire to homes in March 1999, as civilian Kosovan Albanians were expelled from their homes and in some cases forced to flee to Albania.

Norway was tipped off by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

The suspect was reported to have been in Orkanger in central Norway since July 2007.

An appeal against any possible extradition is likely to result in a lengthy legal process. (dpa)