(ANSA-AFP) - THE HAGUE, FEB 9 - The Hague war crimes trial against Kosovo's ex-president and former guerrilla leader Hashim Thaci, along with three other senior rebel figures, began hearing closing statements on Monday -- the final phase before it retires to deliver a verdict. All four face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, over their alleged responsibility for killings, torture and other abuses committed by KLA members. Delivering the prosecution's closing statement, specialist prosecutor Kimberly West requested a single sentence of 45 years for the crimes allegedly committed during the 1990s war with Serbia. "The gravity of the charges has not diminished with the passage of time," West told the court. Thaci listened to the proceedings, wearing a charcoal suit, a white shirt, and a red tie. Closing arguments from all parties are scheduled for this week and next -- with Thaci and his co-accused expected to begin delivering their statements later this week. Thaci was the political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during the war against Serbia; the other three men held senior roles in the rebel group. The hearing is scheduled to end by mid-February, and the court will have a month further to deliberate before delivering its verdict. That deadline could be extended by two months under exceptional circumstances. Thaci, who immediately resigned from the presidency after his indictment in 2020, and his co-accused pleaded not guilty at the opening of the trial four years ago. They are all expected to do the same in their closing statements. Established by the country's parliament, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers investigates and prosecutes suspected war crimes committed by ethnic Albanian guerrillas during the war. Although part of Kosovo's judicial system, it is physically located in The Hague and staffed solely by international judges and supporting staff in a bid to protect witnesses from possible retribution at home. (ANSA-AFP).