(ANSA-AFP) - PRISTINA, FEB 17 - Tens of thousands of people marched through Kosovo's capital on Tuesday, protesting against the war crimes trial of the country's former president and other ex-guerrillas. The rally, held on the country's Independence Day, came ahead of the final hearing in the trial of its former president and political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), Hashim Thaci, along with three senior figures of the rebel movement. Waving red flags emblazoned with the yellow and black crest of the KLA, crowds chanted the militia's name as they marched through Pristina's downtown. Aerial images broadcast by local media showed protesters filling a main square and several surrounding streets. AFP reporters in the crowd estimated there were tens of thousands. Organisers, who are members of Thaci's political party, said they expected attendance to reach over 200,000 with President Vjosa Osmani also joining the rally. The trial of Thaci and other defendants before Kosovo's Specialist Chambers (KSC) in The Hague has been hearing closing statements for over a week -- the last stage before it retires to decide 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 during the 1990s war. (ANSA-AFP).