Natural Sound Moderate Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova has returned home from self-exile in Italy to declare that he is back to stay. Rugova once enjoyed the loyalties of the majority of ethnic Albanians but now faces an uphill struggle to wrest influence back from the Kosovo Liberation Army. Rugova landed without fanfare at Pristina airport in a heavy rain. It was a far cry from his first arrival in Kosovo capital on July 15, 1999. Then he was greeted by a jubilant crowd in downtown Pristina, only to slip quietly away only hours later back to Rome. But on Friday Rugova, with his wife and two children, told reporters that this time he was back for good. Rugova was twice elected president in unofficial elections, and most ethnic Albanians see him as their leader. His Democratic League of Kosovo set up parallel institutions during the 1990s, when the Serb leaders of the Yugoslav province imposed oppressive rule on the ethnic Albanian majority. But his popularity suffered from a decision to go abroad during the war and by perceptions he cooperated with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. Hashim Thaci, leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army, meanwhile has gained support. The key question now will be whether Rugova agrees to take part in a U-N-sponsored transitional council, the first step toward giving Kosovo Albanians a say in their administration. Rugova has refused to take part, saying his party does not have enough clout on the body. The council's second meeting, set for last Monday, was cancelled and no new date has been set. While Rugova was returning, some of the paratroopers who spearheaded NATO's push into Kosovo were preparing to fly home, to be replaced by fresh troops. Hundreds of local people gathered in central Pristina to watch a display put on by the departing British paratroopers. The troops parachuted down from a helicopter and landed near NATO headquarters. You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/c4fab398c820d30391b1d47fee5b4dab Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

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