The Yugoslav authorities have prevented lawyers from the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal from entering the country to investigate alleged atrocities in the Serbian province of Kosovo.

A spokesman for the Tribunal, which is based in the Hague Jim Landale, said Yugoslavia had refused visas to the Chief Prosecutor, Louise Arbour, and other employees.

He described the decision as totally unacceptable and said that, by insisting the Tribunal had no jurisdiction in Kosovo, Yugoslavia was in contravention of several Security Council resolutions clarifying that it had.

Mr Landale said Miss Arbour had intended to investigate allegations of war crimes made by both Serbians and ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.

The spokesman said the President of the Tribunal, Gabrielle Kirk McDonald had postponed a visit to Belgrade in protest at the denial of visas to Miss Arbour.