Pressure mounts on Serbia to accept NATO troops

PARIS, FEB 19: Military and diplomatic pressure mounted on Serbia today to accept NATO troops in the trouble-torn Kosovo as western embas...

PARIS, FEB 19: Military and diplomatic pressure mounted on Serbia today to accept NATO troops in the trouble-torn Kosovo as western embassy staff started leaving Belgrade in preparation for air strikes by NATO if the Serbs and ethnic Albanians fail to reach a deal by noon tomorrow.

8220;It seems thing are moving a bit. But there is only a little time left, 8220;French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine told a news conference here last night at Rambouillet, 50 kms from here.

The Kosovo peace talks initiated by the big power contact group, consisting of the US, Russia, Britain, France, Italy and Germany, entered the 13th day today to find solution to the Kosovo crisis.

Tension mounted at the peace talks here as the Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic yesterday bluntly said no to NATO forces in Kosovo, southern province of Serbian republic, dominated by ethnic Albanians. The contact group insists that around 28,000 NATO troops will be present in Kosovo to keep warring Serbs and Albanians at bay.

While Westernpowers are raring to go for military strikes, Russia stoutly opposed the move. A Yeltsin on the diplomatic upswing, 8220;I gave Clinton my opinion in a letter and by telephone, that military action against Belgrade won8217;t pass. We will not let Kosovo be touched,8221; Yeltsin said in the Kremlin8217;s grandiose Yekaterina hall.

In contrast was US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: 8220;He Milosevic should understand that if air strikes occur, he will be hit hard and he will be deprived of the things he values.8221; She also spoke with the Yugoslov President and described the military build-up by the western powers.

Officials involved in the talks said a high-level delegation including Madeleine Albright, British foreign secretary, Robin Cook, and the French foreign minister, Hubert Vedrine would leave for Belgrade tomorrow to make a final push to persuade President Milosevic to give up his opposition to NATO troops in Kosovo.

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Meanwhile, western diplomats and families started leaving Belgrade today paving way forNATO air strikes. British and Canadian delegations started leaving this morning while the United States has asked its personnel to be prepared for departure.

Reiterating the threat of air strikes NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana said the air strikes are imminent if no deal is struck by tomorrow. 8220;If the negotiations fail, NATO knows very well what to do,8221; he said. NATO officials said around 430 aircraft, including F-117 stealth jets and B-52 bombers were now ready to launch an escalating series of bombing raids.