The European Union is considering suspending its ban on flights to Serbia in a move aimed at bolstering Serbian opposition leaders.

The proposal envisages making it easier for ordinary Serbs to travel abroad -- while extending visa restrictions aimed at political and business associates of President Milosevic.

A new list of more than eight-hundred people to be denied visas includes executives of eleven companies said to be earning hard currency for Mr Milosevic's government through their trade with the EU.

European leaders are also looking at tightening financial sanctions against Belgrade. The British foreign secretary, Robin Cook, will be seeking American support for the proposals during talks in Washington this week.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service