Netherlands ? The chief Yugoslav war crimes prosecutor denounced Kosovo’s former prime minister on Monday as a warlord responsible for dozens of murders during the province’s 1998-99 war with Serb forces.

His defense attorney, however, called former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj “a unifying influence and the standard bearer for his nation’s hopes of independence from Serbia.”

The sharply contrasting portraits of the former guerrilla commander came in opening statements at the trial of Haradinaj and two other fighters of the Kosovo Liberation Army – Idriz Balaj and Lahi Brahimaj. The three face 37 counts of atrocities against Serbs and their suspected supporters in Kosovo in 1998.

All three have denied the charges. They face maximum life sentences if convicted.