Massacre in Kosovo: Cohen
warns of NATO strikes

WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (ANI) — The USA has warned of NATO strikes on Kosovo if Serb attacks against ethnic Albanians do not stop.

Condemning the massacre of 30 civilians in central Kosovo last week by Serb forces, US Secretary of Defence William Cohen said yesterday that NATO strike on the Yugoslavian province would be "soon" if Serbs did not cease attacking Albanians.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made clear that Western powers still hoped that Yugoslav President Sloboden Milosevic would agree to negotiations and accept the conditions laid down by the United Nations and NATO.

"The combined threat of the use of force and diplomacy is the best way of proceeding," Ms Albright said after a senior national security official briefed the Senate on the situation in Kosovo.

Over 800 persons have died in seven months of insurgency which has left 300,000 homeless.

"It is clear that diplomatic solution alone will not work. We have to send the strongest possible message to Mr Milosevic that we will not tolerate any more of these atrocities," British Prime Minister Tony Blair said, adding that his country was ready to support action against the Serbs.

Undeterred Serbian forces have, however, warned of retaliation against NATO if it intervened in the affairs of Kosovo. Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Vojislav Sesseji has called on Russia and China to prevent military intervention.

Accusing the West of waging an "orchestrated campaign" against Serbs to justify airstrikes, he has warned of retaliation against NATO forces "wherever possible".

"May be we are incapable of hitting each one of their planes, but the West should be aware that their soldiers will be our targets no matter where they are, if reachable to us," Mr Sesseji said.