The moderate Kosovo Albanian leader, Ibrahim Rugova, is in London where he will shortly meet the British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook.

On his arrival in London, Mr Rugova confirmed reports that he had been held in Serb custody in his house in the capital of Kosovo, Pristina, until he was allowed to leave for Italy last week.

His visit is part of a tour of European capitals.

Mr Rugova has said his immediate aim was to secure a deal that would allow the ethnic Albanian refugees to return to Kosovo.

Since his release Mr Rugova has come under criticism from the more militant Kosovo Liberation Army.