Kosovo president names intelligence service chief

Kosovo's president has named an ethnic Albanian police colonel as the first head of the country's intelligence service.

Bashkim Smakaj, 32, will lead the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, an organization investigates activities such as international terrorism and organized crime.

Unlike the recently selected head of Kosovo's new security force, who came from the ranks of former rebel fighters, Smakaj belongs to the new generation of Kosovo officers serving in the country's multiethnic Rule of Law agency. He takes the post after months of delay due to a rigorous screening process.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February.