A fervent supporter of a peaceful resolution of the problems in the troubled region, Mr Rugova is expected to meet President Clinton later on Friday.

Correspondents say the United States wants to strengthen Mr Rugova's position amid fears of growing support for the armed Kosovo Liberation Front.

But Kosovan Albanian leaders accompanying Mr Rugova also want more concrete measures, including a threat of more sanctions against Yugoslavia.

Meanwhile, reports from the Serbian province of Kosovo say fighting has been continuing between security forces and ethnic-Albanian separatists in the town of Decani, near the border with Albania.

The area has been sealed off, but correspondents say that if the fighting intensifies, it could derail peace talks between the Serbian Government and ethnic-Albanian politicians.

Decani lies in the middle of a key river valley close to the Albanian border, which Albanian separatists have to cross to reach areas they control in central Kosovo.

Observers denied access

Over the last week the Yugoslav army, backed by paramilitaries and Serbian police, have been carrying out a concerted operation to break this supply line.

They have prevented outside observers reaching the area.

The BBC's correspondent in Pristina, Jon Devitt, says it is impossible to obtain first-hand reports from the region.

"On Thursday, the gunfire from this mountainous region appeared to have subsided, but we were unable to get any closer than the town of Pec, some 15km from Decani, where we were turned back at a number of checkpoints.

"It was impossible to confirm Albanian reports that several villages had been set on fire, or to obtain any accurate idea of casualties.

"The fighting could threaten to derail peace talks between ethnic Albanian politicians and Serbian leaders, but it seems at the moment that neither side, nor the international community, wish to use the continued violence as a reason to stop talking."