The British Prime Minister's press secretary, Alastair Campbell, has criticised the British media for being too critical of NATO during the bombing campaign against Yugoslavia.
Speaking in London, Mr Campbell said British reports had focussed too strongly on NATO mistakes, like the bombing of a refugee convoy, and been too critical of the NATO spokesman, Jamie Shea.
He said the media had failed to respond adequately to the disinformation put about by what he called the Milosevic lie machine.
As a result, he said, there had been a risk of eroding British public support for the bombing campaign.
Mr Campbell also criticised reporters for making too little effort to enter Kosovo to report directly on Serb atrocities.
From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
Violence greets Clinton visit
Russian forces pound Grozny
EU fraud: a billion dollar bill
Next steps for peace
Cardinal may face loan-shark charges
Vodafone takeover battle heats up
(From Business)
Trans-Turkish pipeline deal signed
French party seeks new leader
Jube tube debut
Athens riots for Clinton visit
UN envoy discusses Chechnya in Moscow
Solana new Western European Union chief
Moldova's PM-designate withdraws
Chechen government welcomes summit
In pictures: Clinton's violent welcome
Georgia protests over Russian 'attack'
UN chief: No Chechen 'catastrophe'
New arms control treaty for Europe
Mannesmann fights back
(From Business)
EU fraud -- a billion-dollar bill
New moves in Spain's terror scandal
EU allows labelling of British beef
UN seeks more security in Chechnya
Athens riots for Clinton visit
Russia's media war over Chechnya
Homeless suffer as quake toll rises
Analysis: East-West relations must shift