NATO governments have begun intensive discussions about how the Kosovo crisis might eventually be settled.

A German plan -- offering a twenty-four hour pause in NATO bombing if President Milosevic began withdrawing his forces -- will be discussed shortly at a special summit of European Union leaders in Brussels. They will be joined by the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan Under the German proposal a permanent end to attacks would follow a complete withdrawal.

A peacekeeping force and a transitional administration would then be established with the authorisation of the United Nations.

The NATO spokesman, Jamie Shea, described the German plan as a useful contribution to the debate.

But British officials have said it's unacceptable and the BBC Diplomatic Correspondent says the Americans would also be concerned about the terms for halting the bombings.