Prime Minister Viktor Orban told the Hungarian Parliament the vehicles would be allowed to proceed towards Yugoslavia.

Hungary had stopped the convoy of more than 70 vehicles at its border with Ukraine, concerned that some of the humanitarian supplies could be used for military purposes.

Russia was enraged by the Hungarian blockade and sent Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoygu to negotiate clearance for the convoy, while warning that the Hungarian action could threaten future relations between the two countries.

Armoured vehicles

After intense negotiations, 67 lorries are being allowed to cross Hungary on their way to Serbia.

But five vehicles with armoured cabins and four tankers carrying diesel fuel have been forced to turn back.

Hungarian officials were concerned that the vehicles with armoured cabins contravened UN resolutions forbidding the export of military goods to Yugoslavia.

It was also worred that the fuel tankers, which were carrying 56,000 tonnes of diesel in all, as it could be used for military vehicles.

Russia said the fuel was needed for the field hospital the convoy is carrying and was not going to be used by the Yugoslav military.

Russian officials accused Hungary of deliberately obstructing the convoy out of loyalty to Nato, which it recently joined.