Russian troops serving with the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo are preparing to take over patrols in the south-western Orahovac region from Dutch forces this weekend, despite objections from the town's ethnic Albanian population.

The Albanians are protesting against the deployment of the Russians, who they say are allies of Kosovo's Serbs, most of whom have fled the province in the past two months.

The Albanians say war criminals are being harboured in the enclave and say they fear the Russians could allow them to escape.

German troops on Friday arrested three suspected Serb war criminals wanted for arson, looting and murder in Orahovac. In Kosovo, the Albanian politician, Ibrahim Rugova, echoed an appeal by other moderates, calling for revenge attacks to stop.