The ultra-nationalist Radical Party has resigned from the Serbian Government in protest at policy over Kosovo.

The party, which is led by the Deputy Prime Minister, Vojislav Seselj, held 15 of the 35 ministries in Serbia in coalition with President Milosevic's Socialists.

Mr Seselj opposed the withdrawal of Yugoslav forces from Kosovo and the deployment of Nato troops as part of the international peacekeeping contingent, K-For.

Bad news for Milosevic?

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On the face of it, the loss of the Radical Party's support looks serious for President Milosevic. In reality, it is a move he almost welcomes.

He will have no difficulty in getting other political figures and other parties to join him.

Vuk Draskovic, for instance, former vice premier and long-term critic of Mr Milosevic, dropped a pretty strong hint last week that he would be interested.

It may indeed by part of the post-war Milosevic strategy to shift his government bodily towards the centre of Yugoslav politics and so present himself as the moderate leader who people can trust to protect them against the extreme attitudes of Vojislav Seselj's Radicals.

All say Mr Seselj is pulling out because he believes President Milosevic has failed to prosecute the war against Nato with sufficient determination.

The freer the Radicals are to make that accusation, the more damage they can do to Mr Milosevic's bland assurances that Serbia, and not Nato, won this war.