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The world has seen what happened in Bosnia. So everybody knows what Milosevic is doing and will do in Kosovo. Kosovo is legally and historically Albanian territory. The Albanian majority has the right to life as a free and independent people in Kosovo. Besides we have a worldwide agreement on human rights.
Qazim+Chiara, The Netherlands

Yugoslavia was "made" by the UK and France, the responsibility for their creation rests with them, not the US.
J. L. Kovach, USA

If Kosovo is the cradle of the Serbian Nation, the baby in this cradle has horns, hoofs and a tail. The world has to intervene and has to do it now. Why should I pay taxes for organisations like UN and Nato, if they sit and watch this genocide? I am happy today that the world intervened to oppose Nazi Germany and I'm sure, one day the Serbs will be happy that the world helped them to get rid of Milosevic.
Charlotte Uhrig, Germany

Its about time to stop once and for all the latest dictator in Europe and help the Albanian people to live free in their own country-Kosova
Ardian, Sweden

Let politics once again be in service of the humanity and justice! Do not sacrifice a nation in the name of 'stability of the region'! And, how can someone talk about the principle of 'unchangable borders' of the so-called YU? The borders have been already changed, aren't they?
Vlora Arifi, Germany

The USA thinks that they are powerful enough to terrorise the whole world and Europe helps them for fear of being next. The British people are traditional allies to the Serbian people and I don't know why your goverment is acting like this.
Marko Pendrek, Yugoslavia

Do we ever ask ourselves where did the arms looted from the Albanian military garrisons during the disintegration of that country go to?! Why didn't the West reacted then by sealing off the Albanian -Yugoslav border and prevent smuggling arms to Kosovo. Not only Serbia is too late in dealing with the problem.
Marin Skarpa, UK

Kosovo is a integral part of Yugoslavia. If some part of the nation wants to break away because of their ethnic and religious origin, this should be dealt with like terrorism. They don't have any right to ask for independence or more autonomy and the world should consider this as a internal affair of that particular country.
Dr. Bavishi D. A, India

You can't swim against the tide forever. Where a people are oppressed and want their independence/autonomy no civilised Government can morally deny them it. This is equally true whether we are talking about Scotland, Wales, Palestine, Chechnya or Kosovo. To use repression to deny them is bad enough. To use genocide is worse. The Serbs are relying on the same half-hearted belated interest by the West that happened in Bosnia to get away with this. The only solution is to completely isolate Serbia - no flights, trade or diplomatic contacts until they cease their repression and talk. I cannot believe this sort of thing can still go on in Europe and the EU, NATO and the UN do nothing. What are these organisations for ? If they cannot or will not act when the need arises let's disband them.
Barry Tregear, England

The situation in the former Yugoslavia continues to be volatile with danger of return to previous fightings. I don't see any reason why the world should not intervene. This could be the start of the next stage of conflict there. The sooner it is ended, the beter it is to everyone affected. Thank you.
Timo Nieminen, Finland

Absolutely not! Where was the world when Serbian families were persecuted and ethnically cleansed from their ancestoral homes? Where was the world when helpless Serbian monks and nuns were abused and monasteries and graves desecrated? The term "ethnic cleansing" was coined in the 80's by Professor Dimitrije Bogdanovic of Belgrade University to describe the Albanian terrorism and expulsion of Serbs. These are not only the ancestoral homes of the Serbs but also the site of the greatest religious and cultural centres of the Serbs. This region, properly called Kosovo and Metohija, refers to the fact that they have been church lands for centuries. It is indeed ironic then that Albanians who entered Kosovo illegally and became the majority only through their ethnic cleansing of the innocent Serb population are claiming to be victims and asking the world to intervene.
Vlastimirka, USA

Albanians were never the newcomers to Kosova. History has proven that Albanians have lived in those parts since ancient times, more than 2000 years before Serbs even set foot in the Balkans. What gives the right to the Serbs to historically claim the Kosovar land? This is the only excuse they used to slaughter all those innocent Albanians in Kosova for centuries now, and it is time to stop. I said YES for military intervention in Kosova, not only because I come from there, but because I resent any use of violence against people who want their freedom. Why not ask the people in Kosova what they want? Surely their opinion is what matters most. If more than 90% of the population wants to separate from Serbia, what gives the right to Milosevic to use the force against the people's will? So the only solution is to drive the Serbian police and military forces out of Kosova and call a referendum, where the people will democratically decide about their fate.
Fisnik Ismaili, UK

NATO should intervene now, and hit hard before it is too late. It should tell the Serbs once for all that they can't keep up with the barbarian actions against the civilians. KLA is not a terrorist group. They are fighters trying to defend their families and homes. This is everybody's duty. They do not kill civilians.
Xhafer Krasniqi, UK

It is really interesting to see how all persons of islamic background, posting on this list, have the same opinion about Kosovo. They all want to punish Serbs through military NATO intervention although they have no idea where Kosovo is nor anything else about this ancient Serbian province. All they want is that one "infidel" (NATO) fights the other "infidel" ( Serbs) and in the meantime they will establish an Islamic state of Kosovo (they already have the Islamic state of Bosnia - thanks to NATO SOBs) I, an orthodox Christian, was chased away from Bosnia by the Muslim "jihad" - the Muslim holly war against all those who do not believe in Muhammad. Greek people, as well, know about Islamic expansion . ( Island of Cyprus) Albanians, It sure as hell is not going to happen in Kosovo as long as there are Serbs!
Tony, Canada

Milosevic must be removed one and forever from the political life in Serbia. Every military and police checking points and barracks should be removed from Kosova. There is no dialogue untill innocent people are dying.
Robert Kastrati, Italy

Yes. Simply because nobody has the right to displace anybody to achieve the goals engineered by maniacs.
Afrim, UK

Please help us, please.This is the only way to stop the ethnocide by the Serbian government . We are not 2 mil. but 8 mil. So I'm afraid that if NATO do not intervene there will be a third Balkan war in Kosova.They have to know that KLA operated in "Macedonia" too. Sanctions are ineffective to stop a further massacre. So go ahead and destroy the nazism on the Europe.
Gezim Mekuli, Germany

The main problem in my country is not Kosovo it is President Milosevic. He created the problems with war in Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia - he has made a hell of my country. I was in Kosovo for 3 years. Do you know what was happening there? Fear and destruction. When I was born in 1973 in Kosovo, the Serbian population was in the majority. The main problem in mine country is not Kosovo it is President Milosevic.
Milos, Yugoslavia

Yes, Yes, Yes. Justice has to be done. Europe did start this troube itself when it illegally drew today's map of Europe during the early 1900s. They have given the SerboSlovenCroatian Kingdom one of the Albanian regions called Kosova. People there have suffered for the last 100 years. They were ignored by Europe until recently, when they relised Slobodan Milosevic's ideas for a greater Serbia. I know some people misunderstand the situation due to Serb propaganda during the 1950-1990 years when they said that in Kosova the Serb minority was in danger and that the cradle of Serbia is Kosova. It is being ignored that Albanians are originaly Illirians, and that ignoring in 1945 and 1948 the head of Serbian Regime, Vasa Cubrilovic, made almost 1, 000, 000 Albanians seek refuge in Turkey. In Europe every country is proud that the people who live there have all the rights of speech and freedom and rights to make their children's life secure for the next century. So why can it not be the same for the Kosovar people? For the last 10 years, they have had no TV channel, no radio, no schools, no work. How would you feel if someone come to your school and shot you when you just had just started to think about building your future? Or someone came and took you from your workplace of the last 40 years and forced you to leave? I was reading the other day this message from a Serb asking why the Albanians need help from NATO. Well from our experience we all know that in everyday life we all need some sort of help from someone else in order to achive something. But the main reason why the Kosovar people are asking for help is Serb terrorism and genocide. I think this intervention (If it's done ) will be good for the Serbs. They will realise that they are dreaming the wrong dreams and they are going to be the loser. Look at their economy today. Nothing works at all. Everybody suffers. So please raise up your voice to bring back justice and help the inocent people in Kosova and elswere to live freely.
Student, UK

What a Question? Does the sun shine? Well it certainly doesn't for Albanians in Kosova! There is a chance for world politicians to redeem themselves and do the right thing. For those that are not properly imformed: Albanians have not moved to Kosova but rather always lived there. KOSOVO - the book written by Noel Malcom gives insides to this issue.
Kreshnik Cela

External intervention is necessary to prevent Milosevic from using the Kosovo issue once again for his internal political purposes. The West needs to show determination and send a clear message that this confict unlike the civil war 1991-95 will not be allowed to escalate and more importantly spread to other countries.
Massimo Quattrocchi, Italy

Yes, intervention is necessary, and now. All that matters is to save innocent lives; all the rights and wrongs in the world do not make up for that 13 year-old Albanian girl brutally killed in Decan (Kosova). And it is a horrendous mockery to call her, or her pregnant 29 year-old relative also killed in her home, a "terrorist", like some people believe or want others to believe. Foreign intervention is needed to stop the war; force is necessary to make Milosevic sit down in a talks table and stick to the agreements, as Bosnia proved very recently. The root of the problem is Milosevic - it is unfortunate that the Serbian people do not want to understand that Kosova is there to stay for all its people, Albanians and Serbs together, only if democracy prevails in Yugoslavia. Continue with Milosevic policies and surely we will witness another Bosnia - and Serbia will certainly lose Kosova. What is the point of staging a war then, apart from further promoting the not-very-appealing Bosnia-created image of the Serbian people around the world?
D Kaleshi, UK

NATO should take immediately military actions against the fascism in Serbia.
Naim Germany

How can we as a world once again turn our backs and try to forget what is happening? The last time we did the disaster of the Bosnian war took place killing too many. Now there is a chance that such a situation is reoccuring the world can not let there leaders ignore what is happening this time.
Tony Quinn, Australia

Yes, I do believe that it is right, as I do believe that the world should accept the right for the Albanians to be independent. The west should stop insisting that they accept an enhanced status of autonomy and no independence for Albanians. Why then did they accept Slovenia , Macedonia and Croatia? The West is giving Milosevic another chance to play his bloody game of ethnic cleansing. The West must accept the fact that with what is happening now in Kosova, Serbs have made coexistence there impossible . And it is becoming worse everyday.
Sokol Rama, USA

Serbia is the one who is killing children, pregnant women and innocent people. Kosova was populated always by Albanians. Why should Serbs, who came from Asia do whatever they want in Europe? They should go where they came from.
John Preston, GB

Talks with Serbia must begin, letting them know the world is sickened by their actions - sanctions could follow.
Cheryl Stewart, USA

Well, I abhor violence, but let's face facts: The Serbs let the Albanians come into their territory to live and work, but they certainly didn't intend that the Albanians take over their land! Therre are two sides to this situation, and both should be considered.
Nancy, USA

Living in a misunderstood country, I understand the Kosovo dilemma. That notwithstanding I think it is unthinkable that the world stands by watching and debating whilst hapless souls are being killed! How come it was easier to invade Kuwait and save it than it is to intervene and put a stop to the Serbian misbehaviour? I say it's time to give someone the spanking he deserves and am sure we all know who that is!
Odusolu 'Jide, Nigeria

What a hypocritical question for preparing the world opinion to agree with what the big powers want, in order to serve their so-called geopolitical interersts in the name of humanity, justice and freedom. Why was there was no intervention in Cyprus (2000 dead, 200000 refuges and 24 years of occupation of the 38% of its territory), Ruwanda (700000 dead, 2000000 refuges),Timor,etc. Of course if there are always and everywhere the same standards then the word should intervene to save lifes, property and justice, fighting against aggression from both sides. But if these standards are violated as this seems the case then there is no point of asking these questions since the powerful of this earth will play God selectively, with or without our consent, something which is a mockery of all good intensions and actions of the ordinary people.
G Athanassoulis Greece

Yes. Because the killing of innocent civilians and ethnic cleansing should not be allowed. Milosevic must be stopped, before the war spreads further with unforseen consequences. The world must intervene millitarily, because Milosevic have clearly demonstrated that the only language he understands is use of force. Kosova will win this war, with or without intervention, intervention will only minimise life loss, on both sides. Therefore it is in interests of both sides for the world to intervene.
Begra, UK

I really would like to say just one word. The reason why I'm saying yes is because once and forever we have to stop ethnic cleansing and apartheid.
Sabrije, USA

What is the problem with the British PM Mr. Blair? It seems that he more than anything wants a bombing raid against Serbia and he already set all the little wheels in motion ( including little wheels in BBC) toward this end.I do not see the reason why except maybe reasons of domestic policy.Anyway, he is openly supportting Albanian terrorism in Kosovo. I do not recall Yugoslavia ever supporting IRA.
Tony, Canada

The western world should help Serbian people to get rid of their president so the process of freedom for all nations in Serbia can start.
Branislav Nakic, Canada

Let's take first things first: Kosovo (or Kosova) is a part of Serbia but nevertheless has a 90% Albanian population, now. But just because the Albanians became a majority over the last decades is it a reason to rip off a province that is considered the very heart of the of Serbian identity for 7-8 centuries? I do agree that S.Milosevic is not the best person in the world but as finally evidence came to light few years ago the Serbians were NOT THE ONLY ones which applied ethnic cleansing - Croatians & certainly Muslims were pretty good at this "sport" too.... So, I think that Kosovo/a should remain part Serbia but Milosevic should become more dipolomatic. But how can one be diplomatic when the others are aiming at you (KLA)? I think that new Muslim joke called KLA should stop and everybody sit down and find a solution that is beneficial for both sides. P.S: To ALL "western" goverments; What would you do if a minority of your state suddenly became a local majority (I am sure they are already in some places!) and demands to become a new state within your centuries old nation doubts... it is a matter of time only!
Konstantinos Markopoulos, Greece/UK/Switzerland

The world, and especially the Big Powers (US, France, Germany, Italy, UK, Russia) should immediately intervene to stop the blood shed of innocent Albanian civilians. These countries are responsible for Kosovo being in Yugoslavia in the first place. Kosovo should have never been given to Serbosllavia in the first place, because it was against the will of the majority of the population of Kosovo. Thus, the Big Powers should immediately intervene and fix the mess they made.
Kreshnik Bejko, Albania

When I answered No on your question about intervention in Serbia I understand it as a military intervention against the Serbian nation and Serbian state. In that context I want to give my comment. I would like next time BBC to be more precise with a question because the word is about survival and integrity of the souverign Europian country which is much older than United States of America as well as the problem we are talking about. Albanian separatism in Kosovo & Metohija hasn't begun with a Slobodan Milosevich as a lot of people think as they read yours and other agences news and articles. It began from the very first moment when Albanians felt stronger then their Serbian neighbours thanks to the Turkish Ottomans patronage as they served them well during the 600 year of ocupation of the Serbia. I don't think that the biggest problem is Milosovic. The West's politicians shouldn't act against one nation because of one man unless that man is playing well their game and his politics serves well for some non-understandable aim. If the world really wants to save people's lives in Serbia of both Serbs and Albanians it should persuade the Albanians that they should live peacefully and friendly with all other nations, Serbs, Macedonians, Greeks, no matter if they are Muslims or not.

Albanians from Kosovo and Metohija remember well that they lived in Yugoslavia with dignity and equal to all others, no matter that they own nation in own country Albania was almost starving for 50 years. It was not untill the moment when Tito (late Yugoslav comunist president - Croat himself) died and Albania's nationalists tried immediately to separate from Serbia. During the period after the WWII thanks to the enormus birthrate, one of the biggest in the world, and systematic atrocities over Serb population on Kosovo and Metohija who haven't been protected in its own home by the Croat president Tito who was afraid of Serbs as a biggest nation in Yugoslavia so he !

decided to split Serbia into three parts, each one for itself, and one of it parts is the Kosovo and Metohija. Albanians should get the autonomus status as the Serbs (what left of them) get in eastern part of Croatia. Nothing more and nothing else. And in response to Paddy Ashdown article I would say that he is not informed at all about situation in Balkans or he knows what he wants.
Dragan, Canada

What business does the world have in intervening in the internal affairs of Yugoslavia? Kosovo is an ancient part of Serbia. Albania is instigating a war in Kosovo because it has territorial ambitions. The Serbs have every right to defend their sovereignty against domestic rebellion and foreign intervention. It would be an enormous tragedy for NATO to conduct offensive military operations in Kosovo. NATO has no right to pick sides in this affair. What if Mexican-Americans tried to take over Texas with the aid of Mexico, or if immigrant Turks tried to take over their own corner of Germany or the United Kingdom with the aid of Turkey? Would NATO intervene on their behalf as well? History has shown us that the Serbs are a proud people. They have had their backs against the wall for centuries. If NATO intervenes in Kosovo they will have a very serious war on their hands. I am not Serbian, nor do I condone Serb atrocities. However, I do vigorously defend the rights of the Serbs, or any country for that matter, do defend its sovereignty and national dignity. NATO intervention in Kosovo would be a big mistake.
Trevor Onest, USA

It is apparent that NATO should intervene in Kosovo. One reason is to look at the early years of the Bosnian war after the break-up of Yugoslavia. The inability of NATO (specifically the USA) to intervene in Bosnia shows that immediate action is necessary before the conflict escalates. Waiting for economic sanctions to "force" Belgrade to stop the mass "police" operation will be ineffective. It was apparent in Bosnia that economic sanctions did not work, so why should it work now? To wait for Moscow to "pressure" Belgrade is to ignore the fact that in the past, pressure from Moscow has not been effective for any change in Serbian policy towards its former republics. In order to avoid another "Bosnia" is for NATO to intervene. Now, in terms of stabilizing the Balkans is an entirely different story.
Edward Aparis, California-USA

I definitely believe that NATO should intervene as soon as possible in Kosova to stop the genocide that Belgrade is carrying out against defenseless Albanian civilians who make up 90% of Kosova's population. If NATO just keeps sending Serbia empty threats as it did during th Bosnian War we will see more "Ethnic Cleansing" by the Serbs in the Balkans. I am an Albanian-American who visited Kosova last summer, and I saw with my own eyes the terrible Serbian repression that my people had to deal with daily under Milosevic's government. All the people of Kosova demand and deserve is a neutral, democratic state of their own open to both Serbia and Albania. All people of a nation have the right to self-determination. I hope NATO will intervene and not wait any longer and help the Kosova people in their fight for democracy and freedom.
Ilir Gashi U.S.A.

I think NATO must intervene. This is a repeat of the Bosnia situation, and must be stopped.
B Abell Jurus, U.S.A.

Kosovo is an internal problem of Serbia. The world did not intervene when hundreds of thousands of Serbs were forced from their homes in Croatia and Bosnia. Is it that "world" has selective sight.?what about Serbs killed in Kosovo over last 50 years? What about Serbs forced from their homes in Kosovo in last 50 years? anybody have answer?
Jelena Vujic, Canada

Serbs don't know the language of piece and gentle it's time to punish them.
Rizwan Muhammad, Canada

The sufferings of the people in Kosovo are and will continue to mark a very sad chapter of human history. Intervention is crucially needed to prevent further blood shedding. The innocent cries will curse the dumb world whose role is nothing but mere watching. Yes for intervention.
Al-Sharafi, UK

The UN forces must intervene and formulate a theory to cease the bloody ethnic cleansing and should contain this malaise.
Hardesh Bothra, India

No !!! Because Kosovo is part of Serbia !!!
Pera Lazic, USA

The international community should clamp down hard on the Albanian separatists and show that it will not support any terrorist actions. If this is not done promptly more lives will be lost.
Jaroslav Cerny, Indonesia

No, if we do why don't we intervene with Ethiopia/Eritrea and other 'hot-spots' in the world. People should learn to live together, after all we all share the same planet.
Neil Taylor, Hong Kong SAR, China

The western world should intervene with force to prevent a repeat of the Bosnian crisis in which the aggressors laughed at the weak and divided stand taken up by so called developed countries.
Steven Wood, UK

Most countries have groups of dissatisfied individuals who are willing to use terrorism and violence to scare the countries majority into allowing them to separate. The majority of Serbia does not wish to lose control of the Kosovo area and rightly or wrongly they are willing to fight for it. As long as the international community treats terrorists (individuals who are fighting against a democratically elected government) as if they are freedom fighters (those fighting against non-democratically elected rulers) then governments such as Serbia will perceive a need to use extreme acts of violence in defending its elected right to govern its own land. If Serbia had been assisted in stamping out the terrorists operating in Kosovo, then the Serbia government would not have perceived a need to stamp out the minority community. As usual the international community has sat back and praised the very people who force mindless governments to use the only advantage they have, size of arms, to defend the right of the majority over the minority.
Graham Gill, UK

In my opinion, it's an internal affair in Yugoslavia, and we do not always need to be the world's judge
Volker N. Englisch, Germany

The world is already paying for their mistake in Bosnia - more than 10 billion US dollars so far. To save many lives and much more_ the world has to intervene NOW!
Ymer Shahini, Canada

It is important that bloodshed is avoided no matter what the other issues involved. However, of the other issues involved, the break-up of Nation States in the Balkans along nationalist lines is a dangerous and damaging experiment which threatens European peace and stability. Communism provided a cohesion (not always a just one), but many of these States date to before WWII and were made-up as a result of the dismantling of the Austro-Hungarian empire after 1918, and the earlier nationalist solution to the Eastern Question at the end of the Ninitennth century. To allow ethnic and religious nationalism to allow further fragmentation is a dangerous road to follow. Means other than ethnic and religious commonality need to be found to stop the regression in this eastern wing of our European home.
James Cooper, UK

Time is ticking by as innocent people lose their lives. President Milosevic is an evil ruler who only understands the language of physical force and human pain.
Muzaffar Qureshi, UK

Serbs and Albanians have been fighting each other for the longest time. History shows that each hate each other and that they don't belong together. There have been plots by the Serbs to take Albanian after it was created after the first world war and there was a plot by the Serbs to swallow Albania as a republic of Yugoslavia after the Second World War. The Albanians prevented both plots from being carried out and will prevent the ethnic cleansing of Kosova (note that I spelled it as Kosova and not Kosovo which is the Serbian way of doing things, part of changing and assimulating). There are too many people comparing Kosova to Bosnia. There are many differences between the 2 situations. Bosnia is made up of Serbs Croats and Muslims with the Serbs being the majority. Kosova on the other hand is made up of 90% Albanians. How backwards can the Serbs be if they feel that 10% of the population can control 90%? The Serbs wanted to fight for Bosnia as the the average Serb in Serbia does not want to lose his or her life over Kosova. Four hundred Serbian police were fired in the past two weeks for refusing to go to Kosova. Is the message clear yet?? Serbs...welcome to Vietnam.
Abedin Astafa, USA

Definitively yes, but not militarily. The international community should finally give an example and dismount Mr. Milosevic, who is the single guilty in this war. Not the Army, nor the police are the real instigators of trouble. Why is it still easier for the West to drop bombs than be constructive?
Alex, Switzerland / Yugoslavia

In allowing the Bosnian conflict to escalate we failed to prevent the deaths of thousands. Kosovo will be just the same and possibly worse with the risk of the conflict spreading.
Steve Johnson, UK

What is happening is very similar to Bosnian ethnic cleansing. What the world should do is use any military force to stop THE BUTCHER OF THE BALKANS for carrying out atrocities on human life and honour.
Sajjad Ahmed Ansari, USA

I believe it is an internal affair of Serbia and should be left alone - no one interfered with the Spanish fight against the Basque terrorists or with the British against the IRA. The so-called KLA is no more justified than these organisations.
Rogelio de Tormes, Cuba

The government that doesn't respect the right of its minorities is a tyrant one, and that defies reason. Let us remember that those who believe in force will only understand force. The deference is that theirs is the force of EVIL and ours (NATO) is the force of GOOD.
Wake-up people! Step in to prevent the massacre before it's too late and remember that there isn't much difference between the one that's committing the murder and the one standing by watching, or there is?
Jamillah Faisal Abo-Rass, USA

Serbians must be punished for their brutality against innocent people.
Faisal Harlem, Norway

Europeans should be pleased with what the Serbs are doing, it helps them to get rid of unwanted ethnic and religious groups. But the world community should not sit idle and watch the atrocities. I think an intervention is necessary and should have taken place long ago. We have let the Serbs do whatever they want for too long. What good is rhetoric if not backed by action?
Mohamed Hazza, Norway

Judging from our previous mistakes in intervening in the Balkans, to ignore what is happening in Kosovo is ultimately foolish. To avoid intervention now is to invite backlash later.
Jim Redmond, USA

Yes! But to crush the KLA and not to assist them in their fight against Serbia. Since when do we allow people who are no better than armed thugs cause this much trouble to people who are too poor to take sides? Oh, sorry, I was forgetting Northern Ireland, Palestine, Turkey, Israel, Cambodia, etc etc. Seems that the West only want to get involved when there is something in it for them. Treat politicians' declarations with the deepest suspicion; all we have to ask ourselves is who started it?
Fiona Kellington, UK

Why do you propose only sanctions as an alternative to NATO's (not "the world's") intervention? Why not cut off the flow of weapons to illegal insurgents who can only achieve their aim through violence? In any NATO country it is illegal to have an unregistered gun. Never mind Kalashnikovs, mortars, artillery, concrete bunkers. It is amazing that the police did not intervene much earlier and much more forcefully.
As to the continuous accusations of 'ethnic cleansing' which have been made against the Serbian government since the early 1990's in Kosovo - how can the Albanians simultaneously claim to be a 90 per cent majority in the region??? By contrast the Kosovo equivalent in Croatia, the Karijana with an 80% majority Serb population prior to the conflict is today the most "peaceful" place in the Balkans, because no one lives there.
The silence of the NATO countries and Pope John Paul at the time of the biggest population expulsion ever in the Balkans (August 1995) was and still remains deafening.
M Finch, United Kingdom

Failing to intervene will cause another wave of refugees fleeing into Western Europe. It is necessary to deal with the cause, not only alleviate the symptoms. The cause is the brutal use of force against a mainly civilian population that is intended to drive that population over the border into Albania. In the end Western Europe will pay huge sums of money helping the survivors. Surely it is better to use those resources in stopping the aggression and enabling Kosovars to remain in Kosovo.
T Langford, UK

Just as with Bosnia, the West stood by as Muslims were slaughtered, and in a weak gesture they imposed an arms embargo which only hurt the Muslims, as they could not even fight back, as the Serbs inherited the former Yugoslavian army. We don't need or want their help. Just like with Bosnia the Mujahedin came to fight and help the Muslims of Bosnia and then left. And again they will come to help the Muslims of Kosovo. The West's inaction to Muslim sufferring only shows their double standards.
"And what is wrong with you that you fight not in the Cause of God, and for those weak, ill-treated, and oppressed among men, women and children whose cry is: 'Our Lord! Rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from You one who will protect and raise for us from You one who will help'". [The Quran - 4:75]
Julaybib Muhajir, UK

Yes, the world should intervene, because military action was the only language the Serbs and their Bosnian puppets understood during the Bosnian crisis. The NATO action stopped thousands more people being killed or "cleansed". NATO can do the same in Kosovo. The Serbian leaders have behaved like Nazis of the Nineties and are a disgrace to European civilisation.
Ray Marsh, Australia

We have to stop being pretentious. If military intervention takes place who is going to argue against the West intervening in places like Turkish Kurdistan.
Ike Kyriakou, Scotland

The situation in Kosovo is a bomb waiting to explode. All the UN should do is seal the borders with Kosovo to limit the damage. Any other form of military intervention could potentially start a Balkan war that will suck in countries like Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey! This would make Bosnia look like a game of cards in comparison. My message is think long and hard before coming to any decision, and listen to Russia. They know more about the region than the US.
Mustrum Ridcully, UK

If the United States (which is the police of the world) work hard on trying to make peace, peace can be achieved at no cost. But this is played politically and economically to reach their goals. At the same time it's no different from a mafia formed government.
Yasser Al-Ghurazy, The Republic of Yemen

Neither NATO, nor anyone else, has any right whatsoever to intervene in Kosovo because this is an internal problem. Punishing the Serbian government for its legitimate activity against a classical terrorist Albanian organization (Kosovo "Liberation" Army) is irrational, immoral, and irresponsible. It sends a wrong signal to all international terrorists.
Velimir Jovanovic, USA

Milosovic understands only brute force. NATO needs to quit playing games and deal with the Serbs in a langauge they understand - Armed Force Perhaps a cruise missile attack on Serbian C3 is in order.
Mark W. Griffith, USA

No !! Because Serbia is in the right.
Zivkovic Dusan, Serbia

The world will only become a true "Global Village" when sadness and sorrow, joy and happiness is felt and shared by people all around the world. So how many children must die before the world intervene, one innocent child is too many.
Faisal Abo-Rass, USA

The root cause will not be addressed by any armed intervention. Somehow every newspaper paints the situation as something other than what it is. It is a religious war between Christians and Muslims. And the problem with living in a Muslim country is that they will rule by the Islamic Law, which has no place for non-Muslims. That is the basic problem. The only people who can solve this, are the Muslims themselves, otherwise these episodes will continue, no matter who intervenes and when.
Ravi Kaw, USA

Should the people of Bradford seek an independent country within Great Britain just because they are in the majority by far? No.Should the rest of Europe be ashamed because the people within its borders have to fight with arms on the eve of the millenium for their very basic rights?Yes.We should not have allowed Mr.Milosevic to come this far. Likevise, we should not have allowed and armed the KLA as it is clear that two armed forces within one country do not work to any body's advantage from that of people already in power and arms merchants. If we know who pedals the dope I find it hard to belive that we don't know who supplies the whole army (KLA).
Paul P Smith, GB

Whereas it is a fact that a country has the right to solve their own difficulties, it is also a fact, that the country in question needs outtside intervention. It is up to Nato and up to the world to solve these problems. Drastic measures need to be taken, or is it that we will let more innocent victims die and have their blood on our hands? Troops need to be sent to stop these acts of barbarism and murder against the people from Kosovo. Sanctions have failed, it is time for a direct action to stop these hideous crimes from happening again.
Maru, U.S.A

Why did Pope John Paul say nothing, when more then 200.000 Serbs left Krajina (Croatia)? How could he and world stay inert before Croatian's violence? Why does the world want to break Serbia? Why did the give us Tito and comunism, during WWII and put away our King Karadjordjevich Peter II ????? The BBC & the UK know that KLA (UCK) are terrorists. Please, stop doing this to Serbia !!!!!
Miroslav Nikolic, Yugoslavia

It has been prowen that sanctions do not work and only hit people who are too poor to eat never mind make political decisions so why introduce them ( not on Mr. Milosevic) but on poorest the people in Yugoslavia? As for military intervention, perhaps the West should consider helping through MILITARY action the people who are suffering much GREATER and FAR, FAR, FAR LONGER then Albanians in Kosovo (the province dictator J.Broz Tito created in the 70s for his own power management).I think perhaps the West should consider helping the Kurdish people in Turkey (another NATO member) or perhaps Palestinians in Israel.
Michael P Smith, UK

"Now, tomorrow is too late." That is an appeal to NATO.
Albanian care centre, Switzerland

I see no reason why the west (not the "world") should start a full scale war on behalf of the KLA. The dozens of civilians murdered by the KLA received no symapthy in the west. Thugs armed with AK-47's, granade launchers, and even mortars are not civilians, contrary to what the British and other EU governments would like us to believe. The only message Mr. Blair is sending to the Serbs is "if you don't allow the KLA to do as it pleases we will bomb you", and to the KLA "violence works, and if you keep it up you'll get what you want".
Alex Satara, USA

It can be argued that since the region in which the conflict is continuing is Serbian the world has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of that country. However if the (majority of the) people of any region no longer feel that they are represented by the government that controls their territory then they ought to have the right to decide their own affairs, their own future even if it includes independence. If the world truly believes in democracy and the right to self-determination of ALL people then Serbia's actions in Kosovo clearly call for world intervention. But this same logic would apply to many other situations across the world. Recent history suggests that where a country's national interests are not likely to be served by intervention, it won't bother with what's happening in another part of the world (despite all that talk of propogating democracy and human rights, especially by Western governments). So although I hope that the world or, to be more precise, various governments and, even the UN, do something -- I don't really expect much.
Samir Prakash, UK / India

It has been well proven that economic sanctions will not stop Serbian agression. Since the EU is not able to provide any help as usual, it is now up to NATO to stop the atrocities against civilians.
Kagan Kaya, US

Time is now to intervene before we have another Bosnia, and its too late.
Ali USA

If the world is going to intervene the way they did in Bosnia and Chechnia, then NO, THANKS. Intervention means a complete solution in this powder keg. Half solutions mean trouble.
Hussein Kamel, Canada

The world can't stand by and watch these atrocities, it has to go in and go in hard. Nobody wants to create another Bosnia but since sanctions have been ineffective there really does seem to be little solution to stopping further massacre.
Michael Kearns, UK

Sanctions have failed to stop the conflict so military intervention seems the only solution. However, I think the international should carry on negotiating until the bitter end. There is no such thing as a just war and this would certainly be no different.
Samantha Jones, US

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