Italy, which has maintained its links to Belgrade and an embassy in the city despite its participation in the NATO campaign, says it believes that President Milosevic is coming under increasing pressure from his traditional political supporters in the country to seek a negotiated settlement.

The Italian Foreign Minister, Lamberto Dini, in an interview with Britain's Financial Times newspaper, said his information was that criticism of Yugoslav government policies were increasing from members of political parties in the government coalition and factory managers. This concern had intensified with NATO's increased attacks on the nation's infrastructure.