BBC News | Kosovo | Nato strikes: The first week

BBC News Online: Special Report

Friday, April 9, 1999 Published at 21:26 GMT 22:26 UK

Nato strikes: The first week

Nato strikes: The first week
Week five: Nato tightens grip
Week four: Refugees hit
Week three: Nato reinforces
Week two: Refugee exodus
Week one: Strikes begin

Nato carried out its threat to bomb Serbia on 24 March, attacking a sovereign European country for the first time in the alliance's history. Follow the first week of the campaign in this day-by-day guide. Read the main stories, BBC analysis and the best video and audio clips.

Use the options on the left to return to latest news and other current BBC coverage.

Nato strikes: Day seven
(30 March)

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Nato responds with more strikes
Nato presses on with its air offensive after rejecting an "unacceptable" ceasefire proposal from President Milosevic. Meanwhile the humanitarian crisis deepens.

Fears grow for Kosovo intellectuals

Analysis
Will the conflict spread?
The impact on Albania
Arkan and the Serb paramilitaries

Texts and transcripts
Text of Milosevic offer

Multimedia
UK Defence Ministry counters claims that Nato contributed to the refugee crisis
Rageh Omaar reports: "Round the clock bombardment"
Bill Clinton: We must remain determined ... to see this through
UK International Development Secretary Clare Short: We will get help to those who need it

Nato strikes: Day six
(29 March)

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Refugees flee Kosovo horror
Tens of thousands of refugees fleeing Kosovo tell horrifying stories of atrocities, as Nato says it has started around-the-clock air attacks against Serbian targets.

Analysis
Ground troops: Why Nato says no
Ethnic cleansing: An old tradition
Low-level flying, high-level danger

Multimedia
   Refugees say they left at gunpoint: Paul Welsh
   The fiercest bombing yet: Bridget Kendall
   Refugees say Serb militias gave them five minutes to leave: Robert Fox
   Andre Angeli of the OSCE in Albania describes the mass influx of people

Nato strikes: Day five
(28 March)

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Serb 'scorched earth' offensive
More than 500,000 Kosovo Albanians have been forced to flee their homes, according to Nato. The alliance loses its first plane - a US Stealth fighter. Protests mount in some countries against the continuing action.

Analysis
Life under fire in Belgrade: John Simpson
The Kosovo conflict on the Web
How to rescue a pilot

Multimedia
Belgrade TV reports on "downed" plane (in Serbian)
John Simpson: "For the first time, Nato attacked Belgrade in the morning"

Nato strikes: Day four
(27 March)

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Nato steps up raids
Nato decides to move into the second phase of its military campaign against Yugoslavia, authorising its commanders to target tanks and other facilities. A Stealth fighter goes down, the first Nato loss of the conflict

Analysis
Can Nato achieve its aims?

Texts and transcripts
UK opposition leader TV address - Full text

Multimedia
   Bridget Kendall on the new urgency at Nato
   Serb television pictures of a downed US plane
   William Hague (UK opposition leader): 'Deepest, darkest hours'

Nato strikes: Day three
(26 March)

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Nato pounds Belgrade
Nato steps up its bombing of Yugoslavia, with a sustained attack on the capital, Belgrade.

Analysis
Piercing the propaganda
Q&A: Nato's military tactics

Texts and transcripts
'Right thing to do': Text of Blair's address

Multimedia
   John Simpson on a disturbed night in Belgrade
   Tony Blair: "This is simply the right thing to do"
   John Simpson reports on how the strikes are affecting everyday life in Belgrade
  "The job is far from over" - John McIntyre reports

Nato strikes: Day two
(25 March)

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Second night of bombs
More than 100 Nato warplanes pound Yugoslavia in a second night of air strikes over the Kosovo crisis in what military chiefs describe as a "significantly heavier" assault.

Analysis
Clues to military strategy
Why Nato troops may have to go in

Eyewitness
Chief news correspondent Kate Adie watched the strikes from the deck of the USS Gonzalez

Texts and transcripts
Belgrade breaks off diplomatic ties
Blame Milosevic, Clinton tells Serbs

Multimedia
  Nato commander General Wesley Clark: We're going to attack, disrupt, destroy
   The BBC's Orla Guerin describes how she and other journalists were expelled from Serbia
  Blame Milosevic: Clinton's address
  Fergus Nicol reports on the aftermath of Nato's first strikes
   Nato officials warn of a sustained campaign

Nato strikes: Day one
(24 March)

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Serbia bombed
Nato carries out its threat to bomb Serbia over Kosovo, attacking a sovereign European country for the first time in the alliance's history.

Analysis
Can the Serbs hit back?
Why Milosevic is defying Nato
Russia's pride at stake
How the West justifies action

Texts and transcripts
Nato Secretary-General Javier Solana orders military action
Milosevic: Defend the country
Tony Blair: We have a duty to see justice is done
Yugoslav army condemns the strikes
Bill Clinton: We act to prevent a wider war
Bill Clinton to the Serbs: Blame Milosevic

Multimedia
   Nicholas Witchell: Scenes reminiscent of World War II
   Kate Adie watches the launch of the missiles
   Jeremy Cooke describes the bombing from Belgrade
   US President Clinton: If we do not act, it will get worse
   UK Prime Minister Tony Blair: We must fight for peace
   Nato Secretary-General Javier Solana's announcement of air strikes

Build-up to conflict

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Timeline
Details of the negotiations at Rambouillet, the earlier massacre at Racak and the history of the conflict stretching back to March 1998. With links to original stories, transcripts, BBC audio and video reports.

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Nato strikes: The first week

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