A Serbian official has accused the international medical charity, Medecins sans Frontieres, of smuggling weapons and passing messages for the ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo.

In a statement published by Yugoslav news agencies, the Health Secretary in the province, Vukasin Andric, accused MSF ofrestricting its medical aid to ethnic Albanians and effectively excluding ethnic Serbs.

He said it was questionable whether the charity should have its work permits renewed.

An MSF spokesman Baas Tielens said Mr Andric's accusations were incomprehensible.

Earlier the rebel group, the Kosovo Liberation Army, announced it had set up its own radio station and press agency to publicise its campaign for independence.