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![]() Thursday, March 25, 1999 Published at 09:15 GMT ![]() ![]() World: Europe ![]() Serbia counts the cost ![]() Devastation: The Pancevo aircraft factory was one target ![]() ![]()
As Serbia woke up after the biggest aerial bombardment in Europe since World War II, Nato's Secretary-General Javier Solana has warned that strikes will probably continue for "a few more days". Nato strategists are assessing the aftermath of the first wave of attacks amid strong criticism at the UN Security Council and a declaration of war by the Yugoslav army.
The western military alliance delivered its answer to President Slobodan Milosevic's continued refusal to sign a peace deal by launching Operation Allied Force - firing Cruise missiles in the first wave of a major offensive.
All-clear sirens sounded as dawn broke in the Yugoslav capital, Belgrade and a semblance of normal life began to return. During the night Nato forces pounded military positions. One local radio station had reported intense activity by Nato aircraft in the Belgrade region
In Kosovo's regional capital, Pristina, air raid warning sirens are reported to have again gone off this morning.
This morning, power was restored and life was reported to be returning to normal with buses operating and people heading to work.
State of war The Yugoslav army said 40 targets were hit in three hours including five airports, five barracks, communications and command positions.
The Yugoslav army also said that the Kosovo Liberation Army, fighting the Serbs for an independent Kosovo, was amassing a large force to take advantage of the strikes.
But it denied reports that up to two Nato aircraft were lost. Chairman of Nato's military committee, General Klaus Naumann,said all Nato aircraft which took part in strikes on Yugoslavia returned safely to their bases. Damage reports
They were joined by new B-2 stealth bombers from Missouri, USA. Germany provided four aircraft - the first time that it has entered combat over foreign territory since WWII. In total, eight Nato countries provided firepower for the attacks. Among the known targets were:
Communications with the outside world have been severely hit with journalists at times unable to report the latest situation. During the evening, Serb police arrested up to 20 journalists as they filmed attacks from the roof of a Belgrade hotel. They were later released.
'Moral imperative' Addressing the American people, President Bill Clinton said that western allies had to fulfil a moral imperative over Kosovo.
"We act to prevent a wider war, to defuse a powder keg at the heart of Europe." Defiance
President Boris Yeltsin recalled Russia's representative at Nato's Brussels headquarters and ordered a halt to all co-operation with the alliance. Speaking hours before the attacks, President Milosevic called on his people to be prepared to defend their country "by all means". In a nationally televised address he warned them that "at stake is the freedom of the entire country".
"We shall defend the country if it is attacked," he said. |
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