There are signs in Serbia that a purge may be underway following President Slobodan Milosevic's latest stand-off with NATO over Kosovo.

Mr Milosevic's party -- the ruling Socialists -- met in a session to praise their hardline leader and criticise opponents of his handling of the crisis.

Reports said the session decided to dismiss a senior party official, Milorad Vucelic.

There's been no confirmation.

Earlier, Mr Milosevic sacked one of his closest aides -- the head of Serbia's security police, Jovica Stanisic.

He had reportedly opposed the use of force in Kosovo and the recently introduced media restrictions in Serbia.