(ANSA) - TRIESTE - The embassies of the US, Britain, France, Germany and Italy in Pristina said that they were "deeply concerned" about Kosovo MPs' ongoing attempts to revoke the law that allows the new Hague-based Specialist Chambers to operate, The Balkan Insight said.

"Such a move calls into question Kosovo's commitment to the rule of law and risks all that Kosovo has achieved", the five countries said in a statement. "We condemn such a move, and anyone who supports it will be rejecting Kosovo's partnership with our countries", they added.

The Specialist Chambers, which is expected to try senior Kosovo Liberation figures for alleged crimes committed during and after the war in 1999, including killings, abductions, illegal detentions and sexual violence, is expected to issue its first indictments this year. The court has international staff and is based in The Hague, but operates under Kosovo law. It is widely opposed in Kosovo itself, where KLA fighters are seen as heroes, and was established under pressure from Pristina's Western allies.

The initiative to revoke the law was supported by the country's ruling coalition parties. Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj admitted in an interview that repealing the law would have repercussions for Kosovo's relations with the international community. But also said his party, continues to oppose the court as it did when the law was originally voted on in parliament.

The five Western embassies also criticised a decision last week by President Hashim Thaci to pardon three former Kosovo Liberation Army guerrillas who were convicted of killing a family in 2001. (ANSA).