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Kosovo exodus sparks aid crisis

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Nato says Serb ethnic cleansing is ''reaching new heights'' as tens of thousands of refugees pour out of Kosovo, leaving aid agencies unable to cope with the deepening humanitarian crisis.

British Air Commodore, David Wilby, says Nato plans to intensify operations against Yugoslav forces in the coming days.

But Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov says his talks with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, aimed at ending the Nato strikes, have born fruit.

In Kosovo roads are reported to be clogged with fleeing civilians, many of whom have been forced from their homes at gunpoint.

More than 80,000 have arrived in the town on Kukes on the Kosovo-Albanian border in the past three days with stories of Serb atrocities. Others are streaming into Montenegro.

However, there are reports that the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia has sent back Kosovo refugees because it can no longer accommodate them.

And US State Department spokesman James Rubin warned: "There are indicators that genocide is unfolding in Kosovo. We can clearly say crimes against humanity are being committed by Milosevic's forces."

Russian diplomacy

Mr Primakov's talks with Mr Milosevic in Belgrade lasted six hours. The Russian Prime Minister said the discussions had produced results, but did not comment further.

Mr Primakov is now in Bonn for talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and may continue to Brussels. His trip is the most significant diplomatic effort since Nato strikes began seven days ago.

But BBC Correspondent John Simpson says it is much too soon to think that this means the end of Nato attacks.

The alliance itself has welcomed the peace initiative, but warned that the bombing will only stop if President Milosevic complies fully with the West's demands.

Russia, a traditional ally of the Serbs, has been one of the strongest critics of the air strikes, accusing Nato of genocide and demanding "an immediate halt" to the bombings.

Earlier, Russian President Boris Yeltsin condemned the West's action, but he said Russia would not be drawn into a military conflict in the Balkans.

Vatican initiative

Meanwhile, the Pope has summoned ambassadors from all the Nato countries - plus Russia and Yugoslavia - to a meeting at the Vatican. Church officials say the Pope wants to see a re-opening of diplomatic channels.

The BBC Rome Correspondent David Willey says the Pope is extremely concerned about the effects of continued Nato bombing, and believes his views are shared by public opinion in many Nato countries.

Executions

In Kosovo, the situation on the ground is worsening with reports of summary executions, round-ups and massive expulsions.

Nato officials say they are trying to confirm reports that the Serbs are now attacking a large number of refugees with artillery and tanks in the Pagarusa valley in central Kosovo.

The second city of Pec is understood to have been set on fire and almost destroyed.

There are also reports that several leading Kosovo Albanians have been executed - including Fehmi Agani, the main adviser of the Kosovo Albanian leader, Ibrahim Rugova.

Nato gave few details of the sixth night of air strikes, but said half the attacks were in Kosovo with most of the rest around Belgrade.

They admitted efforts to step up operations on Yugoslav forces in the province had been hampered by a run of bad weather, but expected an improvement shortly.

In a desperate race to halt the Serb military machine in Kosovo, Nato is mounting around-the-clock attacks and deploying special A-10 "tankbuster" planes.

The Pentagon says it is beefing up its air power, deploying five long-range B-1 bombers and five more EA-6B Prowler aircraft.

Nato is also investigating reports by an Australian aid agency that at least nine Serb refugees were killed when jets bombed two of its centres.

Europe Contents

Relevant Stories

UK airlift for Kosovo refugees (30 Mar 99 | UK)
Ground troops: Why Nato says no (30 Mar 99 | Kosovo)
Images of a mass exodus (30 Mar 99 | Europe)
Pope urges Kosovo diplomacy (30 Mar 99 | Europe)
Refugee horror goes on (30 Mar 99 | Europe)
Primakov: Man in the middle (30 Mar 99 | Kosovo)
UK steps up Kosovo force (30 Mar 99 | UK Politics)
Press review: Struggling with Kosovo options (30 Mar 99 | Europe)
Harrier strikes halted by weather (30 Mar 99 | UK)
Horror stories from the borders (29 Mar 99 | Europe)
Kosovo - the conflict on the Web (28 Mar 99 | Kosovo)
Life under fire in Belgrade (28 Mar 99 | Europe)

Internet Links

OSCE
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
International Crisis Group
Institute for War and Peace Reporting
Nato
Serbian Ministry of Information
Kosova Press

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