Bogota  - Colombian immigration authorities expelled Agim Ceku, the former prime minister of Kosovo who is wanted as a war criminal in Serbia, after he entered Colombia to take part in an conference on disarmament.

The Colombian secret service DAS, which is responsible for immigration control, said Thursday that Ceku arrived Sunday to attend the First International Congress on Disarmament, Demobilization and Re-integration this week in Cartagena de Indias on the Caribbean.

According to DAS, Ceku's presence was reported as required to Interpol member countries. The Kosovo politician was not held in Colombia because the charges against him stemmed from prior to January 1, 2005, when a penal code came into force that regulates Colombian cooperation with Interpol.

Ceku was expelled late Wednesday and travelled via Paris to Croatia, DAS director Felipe Munoz said.

Colombian authorities said that they had invited Ceku to the conference to share his experience as a political leader in a conflict zone.

"His contribution to the panel was very important," said Colombian Peace Commissioner Frank Pearl, "a most important testimony and example." (dpa)