Shock in Kosovo as Hague convicts former President Thaci

The announcement of the verdict was greeted with shock and profound disappointment in Pristina.

Thousands of citizens had gathered in the main square of Kosovo's capital, many waving flags of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), to follow the announcement live on large screens. Similar gatherings took place across the country in Kosovo's main cities.

When it became clear that the Kosovo war crimes tribunal in The Hague had found former President Hashim Thaci guilty of war crimes — along with former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi — the crowd fell silent.

The silence was followed by calls for justice and chants of support for the four men.

Groups of citizens began trying to demolish sections of the perimeter wall surrounding EULEX, the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo , which was deployed in Kosovo after the country's declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 and continues to operate to this day.

Large numbers of Kosovo police officers and special units intervened to prevent further damage and incidents.

It wasn't just the people on the streets who were disappointed: Kosovo's political leaders were quick to respond to the news from The Hague.

"The conviction of the former KLA leaders is a terrible judgment for Kosovo, for our liberation war," said Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca, who was present in the courtroom in The Hague when the verdict was announced. He called it "a major blow to the state and to the domestic narrative."