In a statement in the Albanian capital, Tirana, Hashim Thaci said the KLA wanted peace, but would not end its armed resistance in Kosovo while Serbian troops remained.

Some analysts have predicted there may be a wave of revenge killings, carried out by both KLA units and Serb paramilitaries, as Yugoslav forces withdraw, and before Nato troops arrive.

But Mr Thaci, who is also prime minister of the interim government set up to represent Kosovo Albanians after the Rambouillet peace talks, said the KLA and the Kosovan people all wanted peace.

He said the KLA would not attack the Serbs while a withdrawal was under way.

Nato spokesman Jamie Shea said it was in the KLA's interests to lay down their weapons.

"We're counting on them to show restraint and not interfere in any way with the Yugoslav military withdrawal," he added.

Power vaccum

There is also much to work out once the Kosovo peace force is in place.

An interim administration has not been agreed upon, nor are there any provisions for a referendum on independence.

KLA spokesman Shinasi Rama said the fighters would not accept "any kind of exercise of sovereignty of Yugoslavia over Kosovo".

"The only third party that we accept as a guarantor is Nato," he added.

A spokesman of the interim government in Tirana, Jakup Krasniqi, cautioned that Serb atrocities were ongoing.

"It is hard to believe that Kosovan people who suffered so much remain without a force to protect them," he said.

Albanian PM cautious

The President of Albania, Rexhep Meidani, said one possibility for the demilitarisation of the KLA was to transform the rebel army into local police and security units in Kosovo.

He added a note of caution to the peace deal, saying it was only a first step and the implementation would be the real test.

He said there was often a big difference between what Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic said and what he actually did.

Albania has taken in nearly 450,000 refugees since the crisis began, and President Meidani said he did not think conditions could be stabilised in Kosovo within a couple of months.