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PRISTINA, Yugoslavia, March 4 (AFP) - The clandestine Albanian separatist movement UCK in Kosovo has vowed "multiple vengeance for the innocent deaths" in the Serbian region's central Drenica area, in a statement published Wednesday. On Saturday, 25 (eds. correct) ethnic Albanians were killed in Drenica in clashes with Serbian police. "We swear by the blood (of the victims) that the UCK will take revenge by multiple means," said the Kosovo Liberation Army in the statement published by the Albanian-language newspaper Bujku. The UCK said its fighters had clashed with Serbian police and soldiers in more than a dozen towns in the Drenica region for four days. It also claimed to have seized "a large amount of military equipment, a dozen vehicles and a (police) helicopter."

Tuesday March 3 4:55 PM EST

Albanian Villagers Bury Their Dead

By Jovan Kovacic

LIKOSANE, Serbia (Reuters)- Two Albanian villages buried their dead Tuesday in the Albanian heartland of Serbia's troubled Kosovo province, swearing revenge for what they called the "massacre of their innocents" by Serbian police.

"I have never carried a gun. But now I will. I have never been a terrorist but now I will become a freedom fighter," Agim Nika, a 17-year-old student from the village of Likosane, 25 miles southwest of Pristina told reporters.

He was standing beside 24 freshly-dug graves on top of a barren hill between Likosane and the neighboring village of Qirez, where relatives and friends killed in a Serbian police attack last weekend were laid to rest.

The police said four policemen and 16 "terrorists" were killed in the attack sparked when a police patrol ran into an ambush in Likosane in the Drenica district, but Albanians maintained the real toll was higher.

Tuesday 14 bodies, including 10 men from the Ahmeti family, were released from the Pristina mogue to add to 10 already on the hilltop, victims of the the worst bloodshed in Kosovo since its ethnic Albanian majority began a drive for independence after losing autonomy in 1989.

Ahmeti family members said their menfolk surrendered without resistance to police who battered their way into the Ahmeti compound Saturday. The circumstances of their deaths in custody were unclear.

Europe warned Yugoslavia Tuesday it could forget about better economic ties if nothing was done to solve the Kosovo problem, and expect tough sanctions if tensions escalated into open conflict.

European Union (EU) Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Hans van den Broek said in Brussels Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic should negotiate with the Albanian majority, and Europe was waiting.

"The clock is ticking and it's almost 12 o'clock," van den Broek said.

British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, would see Milosevic in Belgrade Thursday to discuss Kosovo, a British official said.

Some 50,000 people from all over Kosovo bad a final farewell to the dead before a makeshift dais of tractor trailers adorned with an Albanian flag.

In front of it and between the mourners and the bodies, a 12-year-old boy stood with an Albanian flag pinned to his chest staring mutely at his father's body at his feet.

The ages of the Ahmeti dead ranged between 16 and 50. An 11th victim was a cousin who was visiting them at the time of the police attack Saturday afternoon.

Surviving members of the family, chiefly women and children, claimed their menfolk were taken out of the walled compound of their home alive but admit no one saw the killings.

Mercie Ahmeti, 30, said, "There were 33 members of our family in a single room when a police armored personnel carrier broke down the gate. Our father walked out of the house with his hands raised high and said 'What do you want, we have nothing'.

"All of our men walked out to protect the rest of us. The police beat them unconscious. Then they told us to lie on the ground and kept some policemen to watch over us for the next four hours.

"We heard screams outside and shots. We do not know what happened but I knew then they were no longer alive."

Other members of her family who talked to Western journalists gave the same account.

Just outside the compound guarded by 12-foot high walls were eight pools of dried blood and scores of empty shell-casings for AK-47s and heavy caliber handguns. There was also a patch of blood on the wall next to the gate.

Another young boy who cowered for 20 hours in the attic of a house nearby in which Serb policemen took shelter also heard screams and shots but could not say what really happened.

Police sources claim their patrol came under heavy fire from all the surrounding houses.

A Western diplomat said, "The truth of what happened there certainly matters, but what also equally matters is that the Albanians are convinced that these civilians were massacred. And they are very angry, very bitter."

Murat Muslim, the local chief of the council for protection of human rights, told reporters, "These were victims of Serb terror and repression. And now I hope it will become clear to the international community that we cannot live with the Serbs."

The police operation is widely believed here to have set back any prospects for ethnic reconciliation.

Albanian analysts say that the killings worsened the position of the moderate Albanian politicians who urge peaceful means to achieve independence. At least 35 people have been killed in political violence since the beginning of the year.

The analysts believe that approval for the clandestine Kosovo Liberation Army, which has claimed responsibility for most of the violence, will increase among the 1.8 million Albanians in Kosovo who outnumber the Serbs here nine to one.

"It was the KLA that prevented even a bigger massacre in these villages," young Nika said. "We are all KLA."

Kosova Information Center KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1361 Prishtina, 4 March 1998

SUMMARY FROM BUJKU DAILY'S ACCOUNT ON MASSACRE IN DRENICA

PRISHTINA, March 4 (KIC) - The Prishtina-based Albanian-language Bujku newspaper carried today (Wednesday) a long report on yesterday's burial processions of 24 Albanians massacred by Serb forces over the week-end and eye-witness accounts of the massacre. The Kosova Information Center (KIC) offers herewith a summary of the Bujku article.

24 Albanians, massacred by Serb forces, buried at Qirez

Late afternoon yesterday (Tuesday), in a barren hillock at Qirez village, 24 Albanian victims of the Serb state terror were buried. All of them were killed in their own homes, in their own courtyards, on 28 February and 1 March 1998 during the horrendous Serb expedition. The following Albanians were buried Tuesday afternoon at Qirez: four brothers Beqir Sejdiu, Nazmi Sejdiu, Bekim Sejdiu, Bedri Sejdiu; Xhemshir Nebiu, Rukie Nebihu, Ilir Nebihu, Rexhep Rexhepi, Beqir Rexhepi, Muhamet Gjela, Naser Gjela, Ahmet Ahmeti (50), Gani Ahmeti (47), Ilmi Ahmeti (43), Ham&z Ahmeti (45), Driton Ahmeti (23), Naim Ahmeti (22), Basri Ahmeti (20), Shemsi Ahmeti (16), Lumni Ahmeti (20), Elhami Ahmeti (20), Behram Fazliu (65) from Gradica village, Ibish Rama from Qirez, and Ismail Behrami from Baks village, the sole male in the descent line in the family. (The twenty-fifth victim Bekim Beqir Deliu (16) was buried on Monday). The bodies of the killed Albanian were horrendous to look at. They had been massacred in the most atrocious way. The Serb criminals had pulled the eyes and genitals of their victims. Some of the victims were burned with cigarettes. Besides gunfire wounds, the bodies had signs of wounds caused by stabbing with knives, the Bujku reporters who saw yesterday the bodies of the Albanians said.

Eye-witness testimonies AHMETI FAMILY

The 43-member Ahmeti family from Likoshan village lost ten of its members in a day. The Serb police had stormed the extended Ahmeti family around 16:0O hrs. Dinore Ahmeti, a 76-year-old woman, related the tragic story of the abduction of her children and the family guests. "Shooting was heard at the courtyard's gate. I was inside the house. The policemen raided on the house. During the raid, the policemen looted family (gold) valuables. I hid the money in my bosom, so they did not take it too. They (police) kicked me. My sons and nephews did nothing wrong to anybody. While they were collecting the male family members, the children and women were forced by them to lay down on the ground. Nobody dared move", the old lady said. The police ordered all family members out. Shahe Ahmeti's story: "The women and children were ordered to lay down on the ground. They started beating the men, beginning with the 16-year-old Elhami. For full four hours we (women and children) stayed that way, never daring to raise our heads. Driton was hit so much on the head; he was covered in blood. The beating lasted for hours, till they could not even voice anything. Then they started dragging them, kicking them, and eventually got them out of the courtyard. We, the women and children, were encircled for 28 hours; did not dare eat in anything in our own house; knew nothing about the fate of our men". At around 3 o'clock in the morning they (Serb policemen) took our sports shoes and started playing football in the courtyard. They took all the food supplies available in our house. They went about looting in the house, first in the first floor, then in the second, taking all valuables. Our men were so close, yet we could do nothing about them when they tortured our husbands and children", Shahe Ahmeti said. "The blood of my brother-in-law, when he was knocked down to the ground, spilled and reached me. I could do nothing, as the children were going mad of terror. I could see they were not beating our men so that they survive. They were so young!" The old woman, Dinore, said they had now word about the fate of her ten descendants. "A neighbor of ours, who had gone to the Prishtina hospital morgue, to pick up the bodies of his two relatives, said he had seen the killed bodies of our sons and grandsons", she said. Terribly broken-hearted, she said: "24 children in our house have become orphans", most of whom girls. Of all the men, it is only Xhevdet who is alive. (He happened to be in Prishtina that critical day).

GJELA FAMILY Rexhep Gjela told the Bujku newspaper his cousin, Muhamet Gjelaj, together with his son, Naser Gjelaj, was massacred by Serb forces in the presence of Naser's wife (Ganimete) and child. Haxhi Gjela, an eye-witness, said that when the police had broken forcefully into his house, he hid in the house garret, staying there for 27 hours! "I could see through openings 29 armored vehicles, many APCs, and hundreds of armed policeman," Haxhi said. Heavy shooting was heard before the policemen actually broke in, he added. "No piece of weapon was found in may house. Arms were not found in the area where the police intervened. The weapons the Serb TV has been showing belonged to the police itself", Mr. Gjela said. He said he had stayed hidden in the garret together with Ilir Gjela and Mevludin Neziri. "The policemen stayed for a long time in my house, and consumed our family food supplies", he said. "While we were hiding, a Serb policeman ascended to the garret, but luckily for our lives, did not catch sight of us", Haxhi told Bujku reporters. "We stayed in the garret from midday on Saturday till Sunday at 15:30 hrs. When we were convinced the police had left, we got out of there. We learned the police had killed our neighbors. We heard many cries and lots of shooting during our hiding", Haxhi Gjela said.

SEJDIU FAMILY

Serb criminals killed four sons of Sheremet Sejdiu at Qirez village: Beiqr, Bekim, Bedri, and Nazm6i. Mehmet Berisha, Sheremet's son-in-law, said the late Beqir was married and had two children: Besnik (2 and half years) and a two- mont-old infant. A police tank drove into the courtyard of Sheremet's house. The walls were rapped with shots. The mother of the four killed Albanians was at home. In her presence, the police killed Nazmi and Bekim. In the near vicinity, just outside the courtyard, the police killed the other two, Bedri and Beqir. In the courtyard, their neighbor, Beqir B. Ajeti, was killed too. Sheremet Sejdiu has a son left, Sheremet. He is in Germany, an asylum-seeker, Bujku said.

NEBIHU FAMILY

In the Nebihu family at Qirex, Xhemshir Nebihu and his sister-in- law, Rukie Nebihu, were killed in the kitchen. Rukie was pregnant. Zenel Ramadani told Bujku reporters Serb forces had penetrated into the courtyard of the Nebihu house with an armored vehicle. The husband of Rukie, Ilir, was initially thought to have disappeared. Yet, on the afternoon of 28 February it was established that he had in fact been killed. His body was brought back to Qirez yesterday, together with more than a dozen bodies from the Prishtina morgue. Mr. Ramadani said Rukie was killed in the presence of her children, Valon (4) and the one-year-old Valentina (f). Rukie was pregnant.

REXHEPI FAMILY

Two members of the Zeqir Rexhepi family were killed at Qirez: Ajet Rexhepi and Beqir B. Rexhepi. Both of them were killed while on their way to visit with family friends. Rexhep was killed at Likoshan, whereas Beqiri between Likoshan and Qirez villages. Their bodies showed wounds inflicted upon them by three kinds of weapons. Zeqir Rexhepi said the police had opened fire on his house. It was a miracle there were no more victims in this family. The two victims died on the street, however. "While the police was firing at our house, we, the family members assembled in one room, with the exception of the five-year-old boy, Fikret, who was in another room. He had crept under the stove and kept a stick in his hand. After eight hours, when the criminal expedition was over, the boy had all but lost consciousness. He has been suffering from the terrifying experience".

Serb Forces May Mount Attacks in Klina Municipality, Local Sources Warn

PRISHTINA, March 4 (KIC) - Huge Serb forces have been reported stationed at the Mushroom Factory, which is situated between Pograxh& and Jashanic& villages and the agricultural airport in the vicinity of Turi^evc, municipality of Klina, in central Kosova. In the factory compound is also a barracks of the former territorial defense units. Eye-witnesses said Serb forces have started reaching Klina in the wake of the protest manifestation in Prishtina on Monday (2 March). Fresh Serb forces were reported arriving there in police vehicles, buses and even by train. Local sources were quoted as saying the number of Serb policemen deployed in the Jashanica and neighboring villages exceeds one thousand Serb policemen. Some local Albanians, referring to accounts by local Serb neighbors, said a massive attack on several villages there was being prepared. They said that the attack could occur by next Monday. The Serb police has ill-treated scores of Albanians in Klina, especially in the area where the Serb troops have been concentrating. The movement of local Albanian population there has been made virtually impossible. This is why it is hard for information to reach out. Reinforcement troops are arriving continually from Serbia, reports said.

EU Calls for 'Full and Constructive Dialogue' on Kosova

PRISHTINA, March 4 (KIC) - The United Kingdom Presidency issued the following statement on Kosova on behalf of the European Union on 2 March 1998: "The EU is deeply concerned by the violent incidents in Kosovo over the past few days. The EU unreservedly condemns the violent repression of non-violent expressions of political views, including peaceful demonstrations as well as the use of violence and terrorism to achieve political goals. It regrets that police action led directly to civilian casualties. The EU urges all sides to exercise restraint and refrain from further violence, and calls on the Serbian law enforcement agencies to respect fully human rights and the rule of law in the pursuit of their duties. The EU reiterates its call as a matter of urgency for the authorities in Belgrade and leaders of the Kosovar Albanian community to resolve the situation peacefully through a full and constructive dialogue."

Albright Discusses Situation in Kosova with Cook and Primakov

PRISHTINA, March 4 (KIC) - The US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright spoke Tuesday on the phone to the British Foreign Minister Robin Cook and Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Yevgeny Primakov about the situation in Kosova, the US State Sept Spokesman James Rubin said yesterday. The USIS Office in Prishtina has quoted in today's Wireless File newsletter James Rubin as saying that the U.S. is seized to the subject [Kosova]. "We have grave concerns in the area and we are continuing to act" he said. Asked whether Secretary Albright and her counterparts [Cook and Primakov] discussed the need for a 'foreign ministers' meeting of the Contact Group to address Kosova, the State Department Spokesman said he could not rule it out. "I do not know the full extend of the conversation, but I know that the main topic was Kosova", he said. Asked by a questioner if the U.S. stood for sending troops, like SFOR or NATO, in Kosova, James Rubin said he was not familiar with any proposal to send any military force on the ground to Kosova. Rubin recalled that the U.S. Sate Department issued on Monday a statement on Kosova which said that the US was "appalled" by the violent events in Kosovo during the last weekend, and called for restraint from all the parties. "We continue to call on all the sides to enter into an unconditional dialogue and for the authorities in Belgrade to implement immediately the education agreement on an effective basis. This would be a way to reduce tensions", the State Department spokesman James Rubin said.

It Is Incumbent upon All Us to Prevent Conflicts in Kosova, Tony Lloyd Says

PRISHTINA, March 4 (KIC) - The EU must "take practical steps to bring pressure to bear to prevent" a flare-up of tensions in Kosova, Tony Lloyd, Secretary of State in the Foreign Office said during an interview for BBC R4 on Monday. Asked whether we are looking potentially at another Bosnia, the senior British diplomat said: "I don't think anybody wants to talk it up at that level. What we do know is that ethnic tension in the region is of the kind that causes us real concern about its capacity to deteriorate into a very serious situation. I think it is incumbent upon us all to bring pressure to bear to prevent that happening." The pressure "to bear on both the government in Belgrade and on the Albanians from Kosovo", he added. Asked by BBC about the possibility of sanctions being imposed on Belgrade, Tony Lloyd said: "Initially I am planning to represent the President of the European Union by making a visit to Belgrade and to Pristina. I will be calling on all parties to attempt to defuse the tension, to abjure violence and to look for a negotiated settlement: that is the practical role that we ought to be trying to play this week." Mr. Lloyd mentioned Wednesday as the "likely" day of his visit. "We want to act in a way that brings pressure on all parties to look for a peaceful resolution." British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, current president of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers, will travel to Belgrade for talks with 'Yugoslav' officials on the Kosova crisis, diplomats said.

IHF: Serb Police Terror Must End, US and EU Must Mediate

PRISHTINA, March 4 (KIC) - The Vienna-based International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) and the Kosova Helsinki Committee (KHC) urge an immediate end to Serbian reprisal-terror missions in Kosova, which have resulted in the deaths of at least 16 Kosova Albanians and four Serbs in the past two days, a statement the IHF issued March 2 (circulated March 3) said at the beginning. Following is the text of the IHF statement KIC obtained from KHC: "Kosovo Albanians in the Drenica region are reported to have been shot indiscriminately in punishment for acts of violent resistance and self-protection against Serb repression. The use of force by Serb forces is excessive and violates international standards governing the conduct of law enforcement officers. Serb police forces have shot at civilians from helicopters, have destroyed civilian homes with grenade launchers, and have killed civilians for no justifiable reason. The dead range in age from 16-78 years. In a demonstration in Pristina today, over 100,000 persons took to the streets in peaceful protest against Serbian state terror against Albanians in the Drenica region. Serbian riot police intervened by force, using tear gas, water cannons and truncheons, breaking up the protest by force. Over 100 Albanians are thus far reported to have asked for medical help due to police violence. In addition there were reports of Serbian civilians attacking peaceful protesters. Four persons were seriously injured when an unmarked automobile rammed the crowd. Other injuries were reported when a police water cannon truck rammed other peaceful protesters. One person was reported shot in the head by a Serbian civilian. The IHF and constituent Helsinki Committees are deeply concerned that Serb police manhunts continue, resulting in shoot-outs and other violence in which innocent civilians are the victims. Such violence can spiral out of control and further endanger security in Kosovo and in region. We call for immediate and efficient international pressure to convince the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to withdraw its forces and create conditions in which an internationally mediated settlement can take place, and to restore the human rights of all inhabitants in Kosovo.", the IHF statement concludes.

Western-pampered Dodik Supports Milosevic's Crackdown on Kosovar Albanians

PRISHTINA, March 4 (KIC) - The Prime Minister of the Bosnian Serb republic (Republika Srpska) was quoted Tuesday as saying in Brussels, after a meeting with EU External Relations Commissioner Hans van Den Borek, the international community should intervene in Kosova, given the dangerous developments there, apparently referring to the bloody events of the weekend in Drenica, Kosova. The Western-pampered Dodik, was quoted at the same time as congratulating the Serbian regime on its crackdown on Albanians. The Bosnian feed of the Voice of America (VOA) said Tuesday evening Dodik sent a message to Serbia's Prime Minister Marjanovic, in which he offered full backing for the Serb actions against "Albanian separatists" in Kosova. Heavily armed Serbian forces massacred and liquidated at least 25 Kosovar Albanian civilians over the week-end in Drenica, most of them in their own houses. "I believe the competent bodies of Serbia, with resolute actions, will do their utmost to bring an end to all kinds of terrorism in Kosova, for which it (Serbia) has the support of the people and government of the Republika Srpska", Prime Minister Dodika was quoted by VOA as saying in his message to Marjanovic. The Janus-faced Dodik has been doing well with the international community, being pledged scores of millions od U.S. dollars in aid for his Republika Srpska, namely his own 'moderate' policies.

Disguised Gunmen Shoot Dead 71-Year-old Albanian Woman in Istog

PRISHTINA, 4 March (KIC) - Armed and disguised men killed Tuesday night a 71-year-old Albanian woman, Aze Dekaj resident of Istog, north-west of Kosova. Sources in Istog said that three disguised and armed men broke last night at around midnight the house of Binak Dekaj at Istog i Posht&m. Speaking in Serbian they asked the family members to give to them all the money they had in the house. Only a few minutes later, without warning, one of them opened fire at the old lady, killing her on the spot. The burglars then beat up brutally Azem Dekaj, the victims husband. The old man was inflicted serious body injuries, sources said.

Stepped-up Serb Police Movements in Dushkaja of Gjakova

PRISHTINA, March 4 (KIC) - Heavy Serbian police forces have been deployed since morning in the villages of Dushkaja, an area between Gjakova and De^an, in western Kosova. The police is equipped with armored vehicles and helicopters, LDK sources in Gjakova reported. There is sporadic shootings from fire arms. LDK sources said additional Serbian force have been deployed in the bordering regions with Albania.

Serbian Police Harass Political Activists in Gjakova

PRISHTINA, March 4 (KIC) - The Serbian police held Monday evening the Gjakova local LDK leaders, Aqif Shehu, chairman, Mevlyde Sara^i (f), head of Women's Forum, and Pashk Mirashi and Simon Deda, local leaders of Christian Democratic Party. They were held and harassed for half hour, LDK sources said. Meanwhile, sources in Gjakova said the Serbian police arrested Monday local chairman of the LDK Youth Forum, Astrit Haraqia, Kujtim Pet&rshtani, LDK activist, and Bujar Domniku, local leader of the PPK. They were held and interrogated at the police station for one hour.

Serbian Police Repression in Kosova

Prizren: The Serbian police raided in early morning hours today the home of Met& Gashi at Ortakoll neighborhood of Prizren, LDK sources in Prizren reported. The police demolished home furniture and seized a video-camera, a pair of binoculars and some video tapes. Sources said there is an increased presence of Serb police forces in this neighborhood. Similar sources say the Serbian riot police beat severely the seventy-year-old Faik Elshani from Prizren in Prishtina Monday. Whereas, yesterday the Serbian police at the Komaran check-point harassed and threatened members of the Prizren LDK presidency, Syl& Hoxha, Qamil Buzhala and Islam Bajrami. Gllogovc: Yesterday (Monday) the Serbian police sealed off all the roads leading in an out of the Drenica region, in an attempt to prevent people from participation in yesterday's funeral of 24 Albanians killed Saturday. At Janova neighborhood, the Serbian police shot from their car in the direction a group of local residents who were travelling to Qirez, LDK sources said. It was also reported that the life in the small town of Gllogovc has been paralyzed completely. Most shops have closed and there has been no press in the shops since Saturday. Meanwhile, LDK sources from different parts of Kosova have been reporting of scores of people beaten up at the Serbian police check-points, such as the ones in Komaran and Kijeva. Among the ill-treated persons over the last two days sources have named Hysen Janova, Hakif A. Xhylani, Mefail Tha^i from Komaran, Hasan Kukleci from Lluga of Istogut, Avni Kelmendi from Rakovina of Gjakova, Sami Gashi, Feim Gashi, Hyzer Gashi, Brahim Gashi, Ajet and Misim Gashi from Petreshtica of Shtime, Bekim Gashi from Ferizaj, Jonuz Bajrami from Nekoci.

Kosova Information Center Last page!

March 4, 1998

Albanians Bury 24 Villagers Slain by Serbs

By CHRIS HEDGES

IKOSANE, Yugoslavia -- A red Mercedes truck rumbled past a yard Tuesay that was filled with distraught women sitting on wooden planks set on concrete blocks and unloaded its cargo of 14 mutilated corpses in a farm shed.

The bodies, many with eyes gouged out and gaping wounds, were wrapped in old blankets and rugs. The corpses were silently passed out of the truck, laid on crude wooden coffin lids and wound in white shrouds by a Muslim cleric in a red turban.

In the hasty effort to confer some dignity on the departed, family members entered the shed and tried to wash the faces of brothers, fathers and children. Many broke down, and most had to be escorted from the room.

The dead, some of the 24 people killed during the weekend in the most brutal sweep to date by Serbian police and paramilitary units against armed members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, bore the marks of torture and summary execution that was the hallmark of the Serbian forces in Bosnia during the war there.

The testimony of the survivors, many of whom were badly beaten, add weight to charges that the Serbian police and paramilitaries in black uniforms went on a rampage after four of its officers were killed over the weekend in two ambushes, lashing out with a blind fury at ethnic Albanians who live in areas where the rebels operate.

One of the wounded, Sefer Nebiu, sat in a room in this village, 25 miles west of Pristina, hooked up to an intravenous tube. He was shot twice through the leg as he huddled with his family hoping to evade scores of policemen who descended on them looking for weapons and members of the rebel force.

The Kosovo Liberation Army, which is fighting for independence for the province, has mounted a string of attacks in recent months that has left at least 50 dead. The rebel group has wide support in a part of Serbia where only 10 percent of its 2 million people are Serbs and the rest are ethnic Albanians.

"We were in the room trying to protect ourselves when a helicopter opened fire on the village," Nebiu said. "Armored personnel carriers began to shoot and finally the police units arrived, all with heavy weapons. The police smashed the window. I yelled out that we were unarmed and the door was open. They pointed the barrels of their guns at us and opened fire."

Nebiu's son and daughter-in-law, Xhemshir and Rukie Nebiu, were killed when the police sprayed the room with bullets. Mrs. Nebiu's skull was shattered by a round as she was being cradled by her father-in-law. As the wounded and dead lay groaning, a 72-year-old neighbor, Mohammed Islam Gjeli grabbed an ax to fight back the police who burst into his house, survivors said. Mohammed and his son, Naser, were both shot and killed.

The tragic result of the resistance by the father and son was evident in a lengthy trail of blood that ran from the front room of their home down the steps into the yard. It appeared that the bodies of the two men had been dragged some distance by the police. The bodies later turned up in the Pristina city morgue.

"I saw most of the bodies," said Dr. Bajram Gashi, who works at the small village clinic run by the Sisters of Charity, "and many of them had powder burns suggesting point-blank executions."

Fihza Ahmeti, 35, clutched the uplifted finger of her 3-year-old son, Rustem. Her face was ashen, her white handkerchief askew on her head and her eyes wide with shock and exhaustion.

Mrs. Ahmeti's husband, Hamze, along with nine members of the Ahmeti family, were rounded up by police units, beaten with rifle butts and marched away. On Monday night Mrs. Ahmeti received a notice from the Pristina morgue that all 10 were dead. It was the bodies of the Ahmeti family, and four other victims who were later identified by relatives, that were being unloaded from the Mercedes truck.

"We heard the men scream in pain when they were out of sight," she said, "and then we heard nothing. All of the women and children were herded into the yard while the police looted our homes, stealing everything we had of value, including our gold. The police stayed in our homes for a day, drinking, cooking their meals and sleeping. We had to stay outside and were not allowed to move from the yard."

Survivors contend that the police also picked out the younger women and dragged them into the houses where they were raped.

"There are things they did to the women that are too sordid to be mentioned," said Shaban Shala, the vice president of the Council for the Defense of Human Rights, an ethnic Albanian group.

Some 40,000 mourners gathered on the barren hillside above the village Tuesday morning and stayed until the 14 bodies arrived at dusk. Most, including some of the few foreign reporters, had to walk through the hills into the village to avoid police roadblocks. The crowd waited patiently for the 24 victims who were killed this weekend to be laid out in a row in front of a small platform made out of four farm wagons.

Sheremet Sejdiu, 58, sat at the head of four white shrouds that held the bodies of his sons. He clutched a 3-year-old grandson and tried to explain that the corpse in front of him was his father, receiving each time a blank, uncomprehending response.

The crowd, at one point, began to chant, "UCK! UCK! UCK!" the initials in Albanian of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

"No one yet has managed to grasp what has happened," said Osman Sejdiu, 53. "My nephews were killed moments after the police entered the village. No one ever questioned them or asked them who they were. They were Albanians. In Serbia, this is cause enough to die."

By CHRIS HEDGES

IN THE CICAVICA MOUNTAINS, Serbia -- A half dozen heavily armed rebels who had taken cover in a copse of trees to evade a Serbian attack helicopter scanned the bleak, moonlit horizon and set out swiftly toward the foothills of the Cicavica Mountains. The rebels, wearing camouflage uniforms and weighted down with AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition-packed vests, said little as they moved through darkened farm villages, their boots leaving waffle imprints in the snow and mud.

The guerrillas were members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, which is fighting to create an independent state for the ethnic Albanians who make up 90 percent of the population here in southern Serbia. And this trek on a February night marked the first time the group had allowed a reporter to accompany one of its armed units deep into its mountain redoubts to meet its commanders.

The growth of the rebel movement, which has carried out a string of bold attacks in the last few months, has alarmed many Western diplomats, who fear the prospect of a wider conflict. Until 1989, Kosovo was an autonomous province of Yugoslavia. But in that year the largely Muslim and Albanian-speaking region was absorbed by Serbia, which with Montenegro is all that remains of Yugoslavia after the secessionist wars of 1991-95. Diplomats are concerned now that rising violence in Kosovo could trigger the kind of brutality carried out by the Serbian military in the conflicts in Croatia and Bosnia, and engulf restive ethnic Albanians in neighboring Macedonia.

Compounding their concerns, the Albanian government has warned, without elaborating, that it would be forced to "act as one nation" should outright war erupt in Kosovo between the Serbs and the ethnic Albanians.

The Serbian government has combined police and paramilitary units from the Ministry of Interior in recent weeks to stage the fiercest counterinsurgency campaign to date to crush the rebel force.

Many Serbs have begun to send their families out of the region. The postal authorities have halted service to 33 towns where the rebels operate. Serbian enclaves and towns have set up barricades with armed guards at night. Police checkpoints are now placed behind sandbags and protected by snipers on the roofs of nearby buildings. Nearly all police officers carry assault rifles and wear bulletproof vests.

"We are constantly on the move," said a guerrilla known as Tomorri, who like all the rebels wore a patch bearing the black double-headed eagle of Albania on his sleeve. "The Serbs come in with helicopters and armored personnel carriers, but they cannot find us. These are our hills. The Serbs are foreigners."

"The Serbs move around in force, but they no longer enter these areas in small units," he said. "The police checkpoints on the main roads are abandoned every afternoon because the police know we will attack them at night. The Serbs are losing control in Kosovo. They are lashing out with a fury that will only inflame the war."

The rebels escorting the reporter entered a village, which they asked not be identified, where one of the Liberation Army's senior commanders and his comrades were assembled in a farmhouse at the peak of a windswept hill. When the rebels reached the small stone house, they reported to guards outside and waited several minutes before they were ushered in through a gate in a high wooden fence.

Inside, in a room lit by a single kerosene lamp, the commander, known as Dyli, was seated on floor cushions with some of his men as guerrilla fighters entered, received their orders, turned and left. At the door stood two bodyguards, holding automatic weapons.

New Phase of War Under Serbian Pressure

Dyli, who was also one of the group's founders and appeared to be in his late 40s, conceded that his forces were feeling increasing pressure from the Serbs.

"The war has entered a new phase," he said. "The Serbs do not yet know how precarious the situation has become. We have organized armed units throughout Kosovo. There are hundreds of us who dominate areas in the countryside where we can train, establish bases and recruit followers."

"The Serbs only control the ground they stand on, and soon even this ground will be too dangerous for them to occupy," he said, crushing the stub of a Marlboro cigarette in a small plate.

As he spoke, the drone of a low-flying plane interrupted his conversation. Nervous rebels tightened their fingers around the stocks of their weapons, and several went outside to peer at the metal glint of the aircraft as it passed in the moonlight.

"There have been planes slowly circling over us for several nights," said a rebel who gave his name as Guri.

The armed movement, also known as UCK for its initials in Albanian, was organized six years ago to fight for independence and closer affiliation with Albania, these guerrillas said. During the 1992-95 conflict in Bosnia, some of its leaders fought with the Muslim-led forces against the Serbs.

The rebel group carried out its first attack in 1993, but it was not until the middle of last year that it began to mount regular and sustained assaults. In the last few months the rebels have overrun more than a dozen police stations, carrying away scores of automatic weapons. They have attacked many police patrols and checkpoints and claim responsibility for the assassinations of more than 50 Serbian policemen and officials, as well as of ethnic Albanians suspected of collaborating with the Serbian authorities.

A Bold Assassination Stuns the Serbs

In a Jan. 23 attack whose boldness stunned the Serb authorities, rebels stepped into the road near the village of Srbica in the middle of the day and shot dead a local Serbian official, Desimir Vasic, 45, riddling his car with bullets as he lay slumped forward in the driver's seat.

The rebels gathered in the farmhouse with Dyli said they were the ones who carried out that assassination.

"The Serbs appear to have accepted that some villages are already lost," Veton Surroi, the editor of the independent daily Koha Ditore, said in an interview in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. "But since the UCK is home-grown, it can easily expand to any village in Kosovo. This is the biggest danger for the Serbs and I believe what they fear most. The problem is that the Serbs have placed all their money on one card -- repression. They are in a state of denial and have yet to understand that repression has not only failed, but now is counterproductive."

Serbian courts have been meting out draconian sentences to scores of people suspected of belonging to the armed movement, including sentencing 17 ethnic Albanians in December to a total of 186 years in jail. There are now frequent police sweeps, with many of those detained held incommunicado for days. Most of those who are arrested say the Serbian police use crude methods of torture in an attempt to extract information about the rebel movement.

Bejram Shehu, 38, who works as a laborer in Switzerland, was among those arrested -- when he returned to Kosovo last month to visit his family. The Serbian authorities say the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Albanians abroad provide money for the rebel movement. They say the rebels find sanctuary in Switzerland as well as Albania, where local lawlessness and official sympathy have permitted hundreds of looted weapons to be smuggled over the border into Kosovo.

There is evidence to support Serbian charges, including a fund-raising event for the rebels in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Feb. 11. The event, at an Albanian-American community meeting, netted $16,000 for UCK representatives visiting from Switzerland.

The overseas fund-raising campaign is called "Homeland Calls Upon Us."

Five Days Handcuffed To a Radiator

Shehu, who told his story to a reporter after his return to Switzerland, said the Serbian police had pulled a black hood over his head, handcuffed him and pushed him to the floor of a car.

"They joked that they were taking me to see the Kosovo Liberation Army," he said. "We drove for about an hour. I was taken out and brought to a basement, where I was stripped and handcuffed to a radiator. I stayed like this for five days. They beat me until I fainted, all the time asking about the Kosovo Liberation Army, who belonged to it, how it raised money abroad and where it got its weapons."

On the fifth day, he said, he signed a prepared confession. "I promised to collaborate with them, and they gave me the name of a police contact," he said. "When I was released, I fled."

The rise of the armed movement, many argue, has overshadowed the nonviolent opposition to Serbian domination, involving particularly the parallel government set up by Ibrahim Rugova and his Albanian Democratic League of Kosovo, or LDK. Rugova, while also calling for an independent state, has condemned the use of force, and since 1989, when Belgrade revoked Kosovo's status as an autonomous province, he has led a movement that has seen most ethnic Albanians boycott state institutions and organize their own schools and community services.

Although few Serbs remain in Kosovo, the region is historically and culturally important to them. It was here in 1389 that Serbian knights were defeated by the conquering Ottoman Turks. The Serbs preserved the myth of this noble sacrifice for five centuries of Turkish rule. It was on the same battlefield in 1987 that Slobodan Milosevic, then an ambitious Communist Party leader and now president of Yugoslavia, told a roaring crowd, "Never again will anyone defeat you." His speech marked the Serbian revolt against the Yugoslav federation and the nationalist wars that followed.

With peaceful resistance having failed to prod Serbian officials to grant greater autonomy, ethnic Albanians say the only way to achieve their goal is through violence.

"There are now three groups of people in Kosovo," said Albin Kurti, 22, a leader of the underground university student movement in Pristina, which has organized three recent protests, all broken up by the police, and are planning a fourth in March. "There are those that sympathize with the UCK, those that sympathize with those of us trying to organize nonviolent resistance and the largest group that sympathizes with both."

"When people hear that a Serbian policeman has been killed, they are overjoyed," Kurti said. "Until now it has been only the Serbs who kill us."

The rebels do not appear to have a political wing and said they had not set up a propaganda unit to publish tracts or disseminate information. Rather, it appears that an increasing number of local LDK leaders, including those in the village that the rebel commanders asked not be identified, have sworn allegiance to the guerrilla force.

Dyli, his chiseled features dimly visible in the flickering light of the kerosene lamp, took part in the first public appearance by the group, on Nov. 28. With two other guerrillas, he leaped, armed and in uniform, onto a platform to address some 20,000 mourners who had gathered to bury a teacher shot dead by the Serbian police. The three men, their faces obscured by ski masks, called for armed struggle against the Serbs and were greeted with thunderous applause and chants of "UCK! UCK!"

"I looked out at these people, and my most fervent wish was that I had more to give than speeches," Dyli said. "I saw all these empty hands yearning for weapons to fight for a free Kosovo. I turn away young men every day because I lack arms."

"Guns," he said softly. "I need guns, guns, guns."

ZERI I POPULLIT On the statement of Albanian People's Assemly

Solidarity to the efforts of Albanian ethnics in Kosovo

Belgrade to give up violence against Kosova Albanians

Albania's Parliament approved Monday a statement, which urged Belgrade "to immediately give up the use of blind violence and answer positively to the request of the international opinion to talk without conditions for the peaceful solution of the Kosova issue." "The People's Assembly warns that the further escalation of the Serbian violence provokes a conflict with unforseen consequences which would gravely attack the stability in the region and beyond, and will increase the responsibility of the Belgrade regime," says the statement. On behalf of the Albanian people, parliament expressed the solidarity with the Albanian people in Kosova, with his efforts for self determination and said that it condoles with the grief for killing innocent people there. Also, the Albanian parliament called on the European Union, the Council of Europe and the Contact Group to undertake concrete initiatives, which would put into motion the international institutions for their sudden presence in Kosova and concrete engagement for the prevention of the conflict. "The People's Assembly understands and voices its readiness to cooperate for the realization of every request, initiative and measures to be taken by the Contact Group or the Security Council, aiming at putting under control the situation in the region and finding a peaceful solution," ends the statement of the People's Assembly. The Albanian deputies stayed in silence for a minute in respect for the innocent victims in Kosova.

Albania's PM issues statement on events in Kosova

Nano: "I express my personal grief for these difficult moments our brothers in Kosovo are facing. On behalf of the government I underline the solidarity with all the ethnics Albanians in Kosovo & the innocent victims of the Serbian military and police violence."

The Albanian government is following with great concern the deterioration of the situation in Kosova, the manifestation of the state violence against the population there, Albania's Prime Minister Fatos Nano, told journalists on Monday. "The preliminary report, still not confirmed officially, speak of at least 30 killed and wounded. This dangerous situation has provoked the feeling of self defence among the inhabitants of the attacked zones and thousands of people appeared on streets of Prishtina on Monday to protest against the Serbian military operations and to express their solidarity with the massacred population of Drenice." "I express my personal grief for these difficult moments that our brothers in Kosova are facing, said Nano. On behalf of the Albanian government I underline the solidarity with the innocent victims of the Serbian military and police violence and all the ethnics Albanians in Kosovo." "I would also like to inform the domestic and foreign public opinion that the Albanian government is very worried about what's happening in Kosova. The recent events in Kosova are far from the engagements taken by Serbia and Yugoslavia, as well as by the democratic principles which arrange the international and interethnic relations." "Albanian government, by strongly condemning this violence, joins with the concern and the efforts made by the political forces in Kosova in order to prevent this new drama being played with the present and the future of Kosova. We are with them and repeat the appeal addressed to the Kosova people to calm and not to fall into the trap of provocations of Serbian extremists and of all other sorts." "The Albanian government continued Premier Nano, has been in constant contact with the Chairman Ibrahim Rugova over the last two days in order to obtain the necessary information to precisely evaluate the situation. We have agreed together to coordinate our efforts for the sensibilization of the Euro Atlantic chancelleries for this new aggravation of the situation, as well as to make evident the danger that the European peaceful effort is facing for the complete and stable solution of the Kosova cause." "At the function of this engagement, he said, I have also established contacts with European and Balkan leaders, asking their valuable contribution to calm down the situation there and to accelerate the political and diplomatic operations in order to overcome the crisis. Our diplomacy is in continuous touch with the European chancelleries, countries of the Contact Group and the European Union. Meanwhile, I have personally sent a letter to the diplomatic leaders of these five countries, who are directly engaged in the peaceful solution of the Kosova issue." In the end, I express once again my personal conviction and of the Albanian government that the Kosova problem is a problem which should be finally resolved in a peaceful way, through democratic means, through dialogue and with the powerful support of the international community. The events in Drenice show that the efforts for this solution cannot be put off for tomorrow and the Albanian government is ready to play its role in these efforts." "I express the belief that the acute and urgent situation, created in Kosova, will pass through common efforts and the precious aid of media and public opinion, in order to pave way to the logic of peace and dialogue. Our constant stand is that any incident or conflict, based on violence and use of weapons in Kosova, should be isolated, stopped and neutralized there where it occurs and immediately. If violence spreads to other parts of the province, a negotiated peaceful solution to the crisis will be difficult, if not possible."

President Meidani condemns the violence in Kosovo

Gjirokaster: Albania's president Rexhep Meidani called on Monday on the international community and institutions to intervene as soon as possible to ease tension and force Serbia to withdraw its military forces and stop violence in Kosova. Meidani said to journalists during a visit in Gjirokastra that he considered the situation in Kosova very troublesome. "This has been the reason that I, in all international meetings, starting from August and on, have urged an international presence as soon as possible and especially a U.N. mission in Kosova because the situation seems to precipitate to potential consequences, which can turn into real risks. Yesterday's events have shown that we are right," he said. Meidani called on the international community, institutions to immediately intervene to ease tension in Kosova, oblige Serbia to withdraw military forces and stop violence and terror in the region and broader, respect the education accord signed some 20 months ago with the support of the San Egidio community and create possibilities for further positive developments in conformity with international conventions. Meidani said that he is sure that if we failed to undertake a positive step to implement the education accord, the situation there will be more conflictual. The first step should be the observation of the accord and its implementation.

U.S. warns of possible intervention in Kosovo conflict

WASHINGTON (March 4, 1998 11:12 a.m. EST http://www.nando.net) - The United States, deeply concerned about escalating violence in Kosovo, remains prepared to intervene militarily if necessary, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday.

The official, special envoy Robert Gelbard, also told reporters Washington will join its European allies at a special meeting in London next Monday that could threaten new sanctions on Yugoslavia if President Slobodan Milosevic does not act to ensure tensions with Kosovo are resolved peacefully.

"We continue to be prepared to deal with this problem (of Kosovo), with Milosevic, with his military and with his police, using every appropriate tool we have in our command," Gelbard told a meeting of the Defense Writers Group.

U.S. policy, which for years has held that Washington would respond militarily if Belgrade expanded the Balkan war into the Albanian-majority province of Kosovo, "has not changed," he said.

Gelbard also said the British would host in London next Monday a meeting of foreign ministers of the Contact Group countries -- the United States, Germany, Britain, France, Russia and Italy -- to focus on Kosovo.

The prospect for violence in Kosovo has been building for some time and "we have warned Milosevic about this and he is going to have to face the consequences of his actions," he said.

"You will see over the course of the next several days ... some very serious action by the United States and our close allies dealing with the FRY (former Republic of Yugoslavia) and Kosovo ... The economy right now in the FRY is dismal ... The situation could become and awful lot worse and we can make it worse," he said.

Kosovo Albanians ask NATO to send peace force

ANKARA (March 4, 1998 11:12 a.m. EST http://www.nando.net) - NATO must send a peacekeeping force to the southern Serbian province of Kosovo to prevent further bloodshed after the weekend's ethnic unrest, a senior ethnic Albanian leader said in an interview published here Wednesday.

"NATO should immediately send a force to Kosovo and the U.N. Security Council should take urgent measures," Edita Tahiri, "foreign secretary" of the Kosovo Democratic League told the Istanbul daily Milliyet.

"Otherwise, the unrest in Kosovo will spread to other parts of the Balkans, and may involve Albania, Macedonia and even Turkey and Greece," Tahiri said.

"The international community and NATO should act to prevent another tragedy like the one in Bosnia," she told the newspaper. Milliyet said Tahiri was in Istanbul to attend an international panel on the Balkans.

"Pressure must be exerted on the Serb government to sit at the negotiating table with us," Tahiri said, adding: "Many Albanians in Kosovo believe that after this point it will not be possible to live in Kosovo under Serb rule."

At least 29 people were killed last weekend in fighting between ethnic Albanians and Serb police in Kosovo, where 90 percent of the population are ethnic Albanians. The province's autonomous status was revoked in 1989.

The Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK), a clandestine separatist movement, vowed to exact revenge for the deaths.

Turkey on Tuesday called for "constructive dialogue" between all sides in Kosovo, but held that the troubled province must remain remain part of Yugoslavia.

"A solution in Kosovo must be found in the framework of the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), by way of negotiations," the Turkish foreign ministry said.

Kosovo was part of the Turkish Ottoman empire for more than 500 years, between 1389 and 1912.

Taken without permission from http://www.nytimes.com - For fair use only

U.S. Presses for Peaceful Resolution to Tensions in Kosovo

The United States remains prepared to intervene to restore order in Kosovo, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday as militant Albanians in the troubled Serbian region vowed revenge for killing of 25 ethnic Albanians by Serbian security forces over the weekend. The U.S. official, special envoy Robert Gelbard, also told reporters Washington will join its European allies at a special meeting in London next Monday that could threaten new sanctions on Yugoslavia if President Slobodan Milosevic does not act to ensure tensions with Kosovo are resolved peacefully. In Kosovo, moderate political groups said they are looking to western countries to step in and forestall further bloodshed. But the militant Kosovo Liberation Army, a clandestine separatist movement, vowed to exact revenge for the 25 Albanians kllled in the weekend clashes in the central Kosovo region of Drenica. Four Serb policemen were also killed in the violence. British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook is to arrive in Belgrade later Wednesday to hammer home the warnings made by the European Union and the U.S. The international community appears determined to pressure Milosevic to open a dialogue with the ethnic Albanian majority in Kosovo and prevent the escalation of the violence. Cook was supposed to meet Milosevic to follow up on the EU demand that he restore to Kosovo the autonomous status he revoked in 1989 when he was president of Serbia.

Balkan factions exchange violent threats

PRISTINA, Yugoslavia (March 4, 1998 5:24 p.m. EST http://www.nando.net) -- A militant group urged all able-bodied men to join its ranks and threatened revenge Wednesday for Serb attacks that killed at least 25 ethnic Albanians.

The threat by the clandestine Kosovo Liberation Army was published in ethnic Albanian newspapers in Kosovo province. In its statement, the group also claimed it killed 10 Serb policemen on the weekend, not four as previously reported.

There was no way to immediately verify the claim.

Late Wednesday, the central police station in Pristina, a stronghold for the 13,000 Serbian police in Kosovo, was sprayed with bullet fire. The attackers -- likely ethnic Albanians -- fled.

Amid fears that the bloodshed would spill past Serbia's borders and turn into the next war in the Balkans, the United States has urged Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to end the police crackdown in Kosovo, part of the Yugoslav republic of Serbia.

The European Union has demanded that Milosevic restore the province's autonomy, which he abolished in 1989.

The Kosovo Liberation Army surfaced 19 months ago with a call for armed rebellion for independence from Serbia. On Wednesday, the group urged ethnic Albanian males to join their ranks in response to the "massacres in the region of Drenica."

"We swear on the blood of the victims that we will avenge their killings," the group said.

Drenica is a region west of Pristina that is now under the effective control of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

Ethnic Albanian human rights groups claim that at least 25 ethnic Albanians were killed by the Serb security forces in retaliation for the deaths of the Serb policemen, who apparently were ambushed by Kosovo Liberation Army members.

Since surfacing, the Kosovo Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for killing at least 40 Serb policemen and ethnic Albanians loyal to the Serbian state.

Ninety percent of Kosovo's 2 million people are ethnic Albanians. Most favor secession from Serbia.

By DUSAN STOJANOVIC, Associated Press Writer

Kosova Information Center KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1362 Prishtina, 5 March 1998

Second Edition: 8:45 hrs

Serb Forces Mount Attack, Shelling Prekaz Village with Cannons

Albanian shot and wounded at nearby Llausha village

PRISHTINA, March 5 (KIC) - The situation at Prekaz village of Skenderaj, namely the extended family neighborhoods of Jasharajs and Lushtaks, is dramatic, local sources from Skenderaj (in Serbian 'Srbica') said today (Thursday) morning. Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) sources told KIC Serb forces have shelling these two neighborhoods. Cannons are reportedly being used by attacking Serbs forces. At present, it looks like the Serb attack is focussing on Prekaz, whereas Serb forces around the Llausha village seem to be aimed at separating the two neighboring villages. A local source from Llausha said Miftar Rreci received gunfire wounds in this village. Huge Serb forces started besieging the Prekaz and Llausha village in the early morning hours today, local sources said. At least 25 local Albanians were massacred over the week-end by Serb forces. The Prekaz village has been frequently targeted by Serb forces. On 2 January 1998, two young ladies of the Jasharaj family were shot and wounded during a sweeping Serb attack on the house of Albanian. Latest reports from the Mitrovica said Serb forces have sealed off the Shipol neighborhood of this town. Nobody is being allowed out of this part of town, which leads towards the neighboring Skenderaj municipality.

Kosova Information Center KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1362c Prishtina, 5 March 1998

Third Edition: 9:30 hrs

Prekaz Village Is Being Shelled from the Compounds of Skenderaj Game Ammunition Factory

PRISHTINA, March (KIC) - Two heavy cannons of Serb forces have been shelling Albanian (Jasharaj and Lushtaku) extended family neighborhoods in the Prekaz village of Skenderaj today (Thursday). The two cannons were deployed in the compounds of the Game Ammunition Factory in Skenderaj (in Serbian 'Srbica') last night. An LDK source from Llausha, a village bordering on Skenderaj and Prekaz, told the KIC at 9:00 hrs the Prekaz village is under a strong and continuous fire from Serb forces. The fierceness of the Serb attack is best illustrated by the fact that the shooting in Skenderaj is being heard as far as the Shipol neighborhood of the town of Mitrovica, north of Skenderaj. Huge Serbian forces started besieging the Prekaz and Llausha village of Skenderaj at around 5 o'clock in the morning today. The LDK branch in Skenderaj made a dramatic plea for international factors to urgently intervene so that the Prekaz people, and the Drenica region's population in general, be saved from an imminent Serb massacre. The LDK leaders in Prishtina have since early morning today been informing the embassies of the USA and European countries in Belgrade, the U.S. Office in Prishtina, as well as the Prishtina- based international NGOs. At least 25 local Albanians were massacred by Serb forces over the past week-end at Likoshan and Qirez villages of Drenica.

U.S. warns of possible intervention in Kosovo conflict

U.S. policy, which for years has held that Washington would respond militarily if Belgrade expanded the Balkan war into the Albanian-majority province of Kosovo, "has not changed," he said.

The prospect for violence in Kosovo has been building for some time and "we have warned Milosevic about this and he is going to have to face the consequences of his actions," he said.

Kosova Information Center KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1362d Prishtina, 5 March 1998

Fourth Edition: 10:15 hrs

Serb Shelling of Prekaz Village Continues Unabated

PRISHTINA, March 5 (KIC) - Citizens of the small town of Skenderaj (in Serbian 'Srbica') have been telephoning KIC since morning today (Thursday) to tell of alarming news about the situation at Prekaz village of Skenderaj, in north-western Kosova. Serb forces have continued shelling with cannons two Albanian extended families (Jasharajs and Lushtakus) at Prekaz. There are reports of ruined and burning houses. The Jasharaj family was attacked by Serb forces on January 22, 1998. Two female members of the family were shot and wounded then. At least 25 Albanians were massacred last week-end at Likoshan and Qirez villages of Skenderaj. Eye-witnesses in Skenderaj told KIC by phone Prekaz is in flames. Meanwhile, reports from Klina said huge Serb forces, deployed earlier in this neighboring municipality, have been heading for Skenderaj.

Serb Snipers Demonstrate Aggressively Their Presence Near President Rugova's and KIC Offices

PRISHTINA, March 5 (KIC) - Since morning today (Thursday), Serb snipers have been demonstrating their presence on top of the Serb security and police building, which is situated some 100 meters away, facing the building of the Kosova Writers Association (KWA) in Prishtina. The KWA is where the headquarters of President Ibrahim Rugova of Kosova's office are, as well as the Kosova Information Center (KIC) premises. Since the peaceful protest of tens of thousands of Albanians in Prishtina on Monday (2 March), the Serb police have been aggressively demonstrating their presence around President Rugova's official residence and the KIC offices.

Kosova Information Center KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1362e Prishtina, 5 March 1998

Fifth Edition: 10:45 hrs

Serb Forces Mount Massive Scale Attack Against Albanians in Drenica

PRISHTINA, March 4 (KIC) - Reports from Skenderaj (in Serbian 'Srbica'), Mitrovica, Vushtrri ('Vucitern') and Klina say Serb forces have mounted since morning an attack on a large area in Drenica, a virtually 100 percent Albanian-inhabited region of Kosova. The Prekaz and Llausha villages of Skenderaj were reported attacked earlier. Prekaz been under Serb cannon fire for a couple of hours now. The village has been described to be in flames amidst the heavy shelling. Recent reports said the Vojnik& and A^areva villages have been assaulted too. Sources from Mitrovica say the T&rnavc, Prekaz, Klin& e Ep&rme, Klin& e Ul&t, Polac, Kryshefc, LLaush&, Dubofc, Lubovec, Galic&, Beqiq e Krasaliq villages of Drenica have been besieged by Serb forces. A source said women and children have been arriving in the Shipol outskirts of Mitrovica on board tractors. A source from Vushtrri said women and children are moving out of Mikushnica, Dubofc, Galica and Beqiq villages, heading for the town of Vushtrri.

Kosova Information Center KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1362e Prishtina, 5 March 1998

Sixth Edition: 12:45 hrs

People Moving Out of Drenica Amidst Ongoing Serb Attack

PRISHTINA, March 5 (KIC) - There have been no reports indicating that the attack of Serb forces against Albanian villages in Drenica - Vojnik&, A^arev& and Prekaz - which had started today morning, has continued unabated or died down. The attack followed a huge build-up of Serb forces during the night. LDK sources from Skenderaj (in Serbian 'Srbica'), Gllogovc, Vushtrri ('Vucitern'), Klina and Mitrovica said Serb forces are keeping the following villages under siege: Llaush&, T&rnavc, Klin& e Ep&rme, Klin& e Ul&t, Polac, Kryshefc, Dubofc, Lubovec, Galic&, Beqiq, Krasaliq, etc. The attack in the Drenica villages has been mounted by Serb forces brought into Kosova from Serbia in the past few weeks, sources said. Heavy guns, including cannons, were employed by Serb forces in the attack on Prekaz village. The cannons were reported firing on two extended families (Jasharaj and Lushtaku) at Prekaz from the Skenderaj Game Ammunition Factory. The houses of Shaban Jashari and Beqir Lushtaku are reported ruined. Eye-witnesses from the area in the near vicinity of Prekaz spoke of houses set on flame in the village. Since five o'clock in the morning today, huge forces have kept the Llausha village under siege. In this village, neighboring on Prekaz, an Albanian named Miftar Rreci was reported shot and wounded today. The range of the reported attack on Vojnik& and A^arev& villages is unknown for the time being. Because of the continuing attack, panic has stricken the local population in the Drenica region. Women and children are reported leaving the area, heading for the neighboring Vushtrri (in Serbian 'Vucitern') municipality. An LDK source from Vushtrri told KIC at 11:30 hrs a number of women and children have arrived by bus and on board of tractor trailers in Vushtrri and the villages of this municipality: Dolak, Shtiparic&, Novolan, B&rnik, Pantin&, Mihaliq and D&rvar. Some families have reportedly arrived at Shipol, a village in the suburbs of the town of Mitrovica, along the Mitrovica-Skenderaj road. These arrivals (women and children) are from Galica, Dubofc, Mikushnica, Lubovec and other villages of the Skenderaj municipality. LDK sources from Vushtrri have learned that in villages of this municipality where Serbs live - in Gojbula, Mira^& and Bukosh - local Serbs have been mobilized and weapons given to them by Serb regime authorities.

Meanwhile, reports from Mitrovica said fresh troop reinforcements from Serbia are reaching this municipality in north-western Kosova. In the last hour or so, KIC has had increasing difficulties in reaching Skenderaj, Gllogovc and Mitrovica by phone. An LDK source in Mitrovica said there was a sense that shooting in the neighboring Skenderaj municipality has been on the decrease. The source described the situation in Vushtrri as quiet.

Latest reports:

An LDK source from Mitrovica, who contacted Skenderaj at 12:30 hrs, said heavy gunfire is reported not as intensive as earlier. However, he added, Serb infantry units are reported walking into Llaush&, Prekaz, A^arev& and Vonjik& villages. Many people have been wounded, sources said.

Kosova Information Center KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1362h Prishtina, 5 March 1998

Eighth Edition: 16:45

President Rugova Urges World Leaders to Intervene End Serb Attacks in Kosova

PRISHTINA, March 5 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova demanded today (Thursday) afternoon an immediate end to operations Serb police and military forces launched earlier today in Skenderaj (in Serbian 'Srbica'), Gllogovc, Mitrovica, Vushtrri (in Serbian 'Vucitern') and other parts of Kosova, where the local civilian Albanian population is being targeted. President Ibrahim Rugova urged the international community intervene with urgent preventative measures in Kosova, and to presure Belgrade into bringing an immediate end to Serb police/military operations in several villages of the Drenica region. In an appeal addressed to President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister Tony Blair, President Jacques Chirac, Chancellor Kohl, President Ibrahim Rugova of Kosova urged them pressure Belgrade into bringing an end to outrageous operations of Serb forces in Kosova. The Kosova leader pressed for an international presence of all forms in Kosova to protect the people of Kosova, who have been engaged for years in a peaceful struggle for freedom and independence. The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova called on the people of Kosova not to fall prey to Serb provocations and misinformation, both aimed at instilling fear and panic among the Albanians. In face of the current situation, the President called on all Kosovar political forces to work together and be mobilized. It is of great importance that political forces operating in the municipalities neighbouring on Drenica be prepared to help its population and to closely watch the grave situation in that region. President Rugova assured today the affected people in Drenica and Kosova in general that he has been in contact with relevant international institutions regarding today's developments in Kosova. The Kosova leader urged the media to inform objectively and speedily about the range of Serb actions in Drenica.

President Rugova's Telephone Conversation with British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook

PRISHTINA, March 5 (KIC) - Unable to come to Kosova, the British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, who is on a trip to Belgrade, held a telephone conversation with the President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova today afternoon (Thursday). They discussed about the most recent developments in Kosova. The President informed Robin Cook, the current president of the European Union (EU) Council of Ministers, about the operations Serb police and military forces launched today in the municipalities of Skenderaj and Gllogovc, as well as about last week-end's massacre of Serb forces in the Drenica region. President Rugova said the people of Kosova has been all along committed to its peaceful struggle for freedom and independence of their country. He called on Great Britain, and the EU, to establish all kinds of presence in Kosova as a preventative measure to protect the people of Kosova. The British Foreign Secretary expressed his deep concern over the most recent developments in Kosova and stressed that the EU is watching the situation in Kosova attentively. Emphasizing that the EU stands for an acceptable settlement to the Kosova issue by peaceful means and dialogue, Robin Cook invited President Rugova visit London as soon as possible. President Ibrahim Rugova invited the British Foreign Secretary visit Prishtina and get acquainted first-hand with the grave situation in Kosova.

FRENCH AMBASSADOR VISITS PRISTINA Tanjug, 1998-03-03 French Ambassador to Yugoslavia Stanislas Filliol conferred in Pristina on Tuesday with Deputy Chief of the Kosovo district Veljko Odalovic and provincial Information Secretary Bosko Drobnjak, said the Information Secretariat of Kosovo and Metohija. Odalovic informed the Ambassador in detail about the latest terrorist attacks in Kosovo and Metohija and Monday's demonstrations in Pristina, which had been organized by the coordinating committee of ethnic Albanian political parties and the union of independent students, which clearly gave support to terrorism. The organizers tried to present terrorists as victims and national heroes, which is a clear message that they hold the same or similar positions, Odalovic said.

Ambassador Filliol conveyed the stand of the international community that problems in Kosovo and Metohija must be resolved peacefully and within Yugoslavia's borders, and also that no secession of this part of the state of Serbia would be allowed. Both sides condemned the terrorist attacks by Albanian separatists and pointed out that leaders of Albanian political parties must unequivocally and sharply condemn the repeated acts of terrorism. At the end of the talks, Odalovic set out that the announced elections in March merely prolonged the agony of leaders of Albanian political parties and the Albanian national minority, as they did not enjoy the support of the international community. It was pointed out in the talks that it was very important for the agreement on education to be implemented as soon as possible and that children return to the legal education system.

VUKOVIC HOLDS TALKS WITH VAN DEN BROEK Tanjug, 1998-03-03 Yugoslav Foreign Trade Minister Borislav Vukovic met at the Brussels-based EU headquarters on Tuesday with EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek. Vukovic and Van den Broek discussed the promotion of relations between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the European Union, stressing the need for developing cooperation between them, a Serbian Radio and Television correspondent said. Vukovic said the resumption of relations with the European Union was Yugoslavia's foreign policy priority as well as cooperation within the PHARE programme and boosting privatisation in the country. Vukovic and Van den Broek discussed also the issue of Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija. They agreed this was Yugoslavia's internal affair, with Van den Broek saying Yugoslav authorities should open a dialogue with ethnic Albanians living in the province. Vukovic, for his part, said Yugoslavia was ready to open a constructive dialogue but said the country expected the EU to condemn terrorism by ethnic Albanian separatists.

KINKEL'S PLOT FOR RETURN OF FALSE ASYLUM-SEEKERS Tanjug, 1998-03-02 German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, well-known for his "constant" concern for the problems of Serbia and Yugoslavia, has of late gone out of his way to impose on the home and wider public the issue of the return of false asylum-seekers from Kosovo and Metohija, ignoring the provisions of the recently concluded inter-state Yugoslav-German agreement on this issue, and in order to continue unprincipled pressure on Yugoslavia. In an attempt to find a "better solution" and thus by-pass the valid agreement which very precisely regulates the conditions for the return to Serbia's province of Kosovo and Metohija of ethnic Albanians who have been refused asylum in Germany, Kinkel presented his own platform for settling this issue in Tirana recently, with an evident intent to draw Albania into this clearly internal problem of Germany. Kinkel said in Tirana bluntly that he would not permit 10 percent of the Kosovo Serbs to oppress 90 percent of ethnic Albanians, and that Albania would be the transit country for the return of about 400,000 ethnic Albanians from Germany to Kosmet, including, as he said, 140,000 failed asylum seekers. Kinkel probably thought that this flood of 400,000 people, used for political purposes and then banished from the promised land of Germany, could reach Kosovo and Metohija more easily via Albania, which no longer guards its border with Yugoslavia following its troubles at the beginning of 1997.

The German Minister has evidently forgotten that this border is well-protected and guarded from the Yugoslav side. He would like to determine where Yugoslav citizens will have to travel to reach their homes, which they had left to go to his "promised land." True, Kinkel promised that the return of false asylum-seekers via Albania would imply previous preparations (supposedly exercises for overcoming natural obstacles), and that this would be done within a certain time period so as not to provoke the dissatisfaction of the people who are returning. Kinkel apparently laid all this out to Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano, but Nano did not accept the German Minister's plan, one can freely say, diabolical plan. Instead of the unnecessary and infinitely dangerous interference of Albania in this problem, it would be far better if Kinkel would settle the problem of the return of false asylum-seekers with the Serbian and Yugoslav authorities, which is logical and natural. It should be pointed out yet again that Yugoslavia regulated with Germany the entire problem of the return of false asylum-seekers, whom Kinkel calls "refugees" (and yet banishes them) with the above mentioned agreement which took effect on Dec 1, 1996. It is also solid fact that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia accepted in the negotiations everything the German side had considered should be included in that agreement, having in mind Yugoslavia's objective conditions and possibilities. The opening of the issue of asylum-seekers within this framework, in the manner that Minister Kinkel frequently does, at the present time is certainly not conducive to the due implementation and realization of this agreement, but is done solely for the purpose of putting further pressure on Yugoslavia - primarily with respect to Kosovo and Metohija, as the majority of the rejected asylum-seekers are members of the Albanian national minority from Kosmet. During his visit to Belgrade in May 1996, Kinkel had strongly insisted that Yugoslavia accept all those who had been denied asylum in Germany. He had said that there were about 100,000 such persons at that time. Yugoslavia had accepted, provided the persons were Yugoslav citizens. The German side had then demanded in the negotiations that this somewhat larger number of people - close to 120,000 false asylum-seekers - be repatriated within a period of not less than three years. Yugoslav representatives had agreed to this.

Yugoslavia had demonstrated in practice on this example as well that it is a state ruled by law which is truly against illegal migrations and does not wish violate its own obligations in the area of international affairs, primarily where its citizens are concerned. Thus, it came about that the inter-state agreement between Yugoslavia and Germany was concluded, on the return of Yugoslav and German citizens who had been refused asylum or are for some other reason residing illegally in the territories of Yugoslavia or Germany. Judging on public reactions, everyone is more or less satisfied with the implementation of this agreement, including the German Interior Ministry. It seems that the only exception is Herr Kinkel himself. Kinkel would now like to forget the existence of the Yugoslav-German agreement which was signed in October 1996 on behalf of the German Government by his colleague, German Interior Minister Manfred Kanter. It is interesting and symptomatic that Kinkel now does not mind in the least that hundreds of thousands of Kosovo and Metohija Albanians will return to Yugoslavia, although he claims, as he reiterated during his visit to Tirana, that members of the Albanian national minority in Serbia's southern province are allegedly completely stripped of their rights. When Yugoslav representatives had earlier discussed the reintegration of false asylum-seekers and the conditions necessary for this, Kinkel and his associates had not acted, one should emphasize, like Europeans at all, even though they often advise others to do so. The positive examples to the contrary are other western European countries - such as Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Austria, and others. In any case, a genuine progress must be made in this area strictly in close cooperation and together with Yugoslavia as the country of re*admission. We should believe and hope that, in settling this problem as well, common sense will prevail over force, which can never boast of being wise.

TERRORIST ATTACKS IN THE PROVINCE OF KOSOVO AND METOHIJA Tanjug, 1998-03-06 In the course of 1997 in the territory of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, 55 armed terrorist attacks were launched by Albanian terrorists, of this number 31 attacks were launched against the members and facilities of the Ministry of the Interior, 14 against the civilians, one against a justice administration official, one against a refugee centre and eight against other facilities.

In these attacks, eleven people have been killed including one member of the Interior Ministry and 10 civilians. Fifteen people (8 Interior Ministry members and 7 civilians) have sustained serious injuries and 12 minor injuries (5 Interior Ministry members, two justice administration officials and 5 civilians). The attacks have also caused damage to 12 Interior Ministry facilities; seven tenements; two Orthodox Church temples; the seat of the municipality of Podujevo, and 2 official and 18 private vehicles.

In order to repel the attacks, Police have used firearms and shot dead 5 terrorist attackers. Out of the above*mentioned number of terrorist attacks, 11 were mounted in the area of the Srbica municipality; nine in the areas of the Podujevo municipality; six in the Decani and Klina municipalities; five in the Pec and Glogovac municipalities; three in the Vucitrn and Pristina municipalities; two in the Suva Reka municipality; one each in the municipalities of Djakovica, Prizren, Urosevac, Orahovac and Stimlje. In these terrorist attacks, the Kosovo Albanian terrorists have used individually or in groups machineguns 24 times, machineguns and handgrenades six times, machineguns and a portable rocket launcher four times, machineguns and a thromblon charge once; a machinegun, handgrenade and a portable rocket launcher once; explosives eleven times; pistols and revolvers four times; handgrenades and a thromblon charge three times. -1998 (January and February)

In the period from January to 2 March 1998, in the territory of AP Kosovo and Metohija, 63 organized armed terrorist attacks were carried out by Albanian terrorists. Out of these, 15 were attacks on the facilities and members of the Interior Ministry of the Republic of Serbia (in Srbica 4 attacks; in Klina 3 attacks; in Orahovac and Podujevo 2 attacks each; in Stimlje, Urosevac, Glogovac and Decane one attach each). In these attacks, five members of the Interior Ministry were killed, four received serious and one slight injuries. In ten of the cases the police officers were attacked while pursuing their duties. In four cases accommodations and homes of police officers came under attack, and in one case masked terrorist gunmen stopped and attacked private cars.

Forty six terrorist attacks were launched on civilians in which eight civilians died (in Klina two Serbs and one ethnic Albanian; in Glogovac two ethnic Albanians; in Srbica one Serb and one ethnic Albanian; in Decani one Serb)), three people sustained serious injuries (in Pec two Serbs; in Decani one ethnic Albanian), while two Serbs and one ethnic Albanian were slightly injured.

Two attacks were launched on other facilities (Podujevo and Obilic) in which except for the material damage done, there were no casualties. In these attacks, the Albanian terrorists have used individually or in groups machineguns 21 times, machineguns and portable rocket launchers 14 times, an explosive device and handgrenades on one occasion, and physical force also on one occasion. In the remaining 25 cases, the Albanian terrorists issued threats to use firearms.

Forty four criminal charges were pressed against unidentified perpetrators for the criminal act under Article 124 of the Penal Code of the FRY. In addition to the terrorist attacks, 13 cases of stopping cars and asking for IDs and searches of vehicles and passengers by masked armed Albanian terrorists on some roads in AP Kosovo and Metohija were reported and three cases of these people bursting into homes and other facilities.

ROME DAILY REPORTS TRAINING OF KOSOVO ETHNIC-ALBANIANS IN ALBANIA Tanjug, 1998-03-05 Hundreds of young ethnic-Albanians living in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija have undergone secret training for terrorist operations at military camps in Labenot and Surel in Albania through the end of January this year, the Rome daily La Repubblica said Thursday. The daily said that the fact was "denied by the Albanian Government." It noted that "it is certain that relations between representatives of the ethnic-Albanian guerrilla in Kosovo and the separatist movement are very close, since they both hope for a Greater Albania." The Milan Corriere della Sera focused on the difficult economic situation in Serbia's southern province and underscored that the poverty there was "a result of the ethnic-Albanian economic model of a closed circle." "Thousands of young ethnic Albanians are jobless but they, at the same time, reject to work in state-owned firms. They instead resort to shady dealings, mostly arms and cigarette trafficking," the Milan daily said.

SERBIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES INTERIOR MINISTRY DELEGATION Tanjug, 1998-03-05 Serbian President Milan Milutinovic received Thursday a delegation of the Serbian Interior Ministry headed by Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Vlajko Stojiljkovic. Stojiljkovic informed Milutinovic about the achieved results, the measures and activities the Interior Ministry is undertaking with a view to preserving and further improving the security of the Republic of Serbia and its citizens. The focus is on the protection of the constitutional order, combatting resolutely crime, suppressing the terrorism of ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo and Metohija, preserving stable public order and peace. He pointed to positive indications in the past and this year of a further drop of the crime rate and greater efficiency in solving the most difficult crimes, including the suppression of all forms of fiscal indiscipline of economic subjects and of the "grey economy", which hinder and jeopardize the realization of the country's economic policy. Stojiljkovic conveyed to Milutinovic firm assurances and the readiness of all members of the Serbian Interior Ministry and of senior officers to continue to protect the constitutional order, reinforce security in the Republic and secure a peaceful life for all citizens, in a professional, efficient and responsible manner. Milutinovic supported the basic orientation in the work of the Interior Ministry and the priority tasks proceeding from the Constitution, laws and Interior Ministry program documents for 1998 and assessed positively the work of Interior Ministry members. He pointed out especially that one of the priorities of the Republic of Serbia was to deal, by carefully using all legal means, as is the case everywhere in the world, forcefully and efficiently with ethnic Albanian terrorists in Kosovo and Metohija.

Speaking about recent terrorist attacks, President Milutinovic gave credit to Interior Ministry members for defending professionally, resolutely and courageously the order, territorial integrity, peace and security of all citizens of the Republic of Serbia, pointing out that Kosovo and Metohija is an inalienable part of the Republic of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and that the resolution of that issue was exclusively in the competency of Serbia. Reminding that the past years were full of trials and difficulties for Serbia and its citizens, Milutinovic said t hat preconditions had been created for citizens and economic subjects to pass from a war environment, social and economic insecurity, into qualitatively new and stable conditions of life and work. In that respect, the state is obligated to find and implement systemic solutions necessary for economic and social reforms, rounding up the legal and economic system, and at the same time eliminating possible sources of crime, especially in the economy. In combatting crime, besides the Interior Ministry, should in a greater measure be also active other competent state bodies (courts, prosecution offices, financial police, inspection services and others). President Milutinovic assessed that the Republic of Serbia has at its disposal highly-professional security forces who are the best guarantee that they will carry out the most complex security tasks for the good of citizens, and that is why the state will endeavour to undertake appropriate measures for strengthening its personnel, technical equipment and improving the material and personal status of Interior Ministry members.

SOLUTION LIES IN DIALOGUE, ETHNIC ALBANIANS' RADICALISM BLOCKS IT Tanjug, 1998-03-05 A ranking official in Kosovo-Metohija said on Thursday that dialogue was the best way to deal with the problem of this province in the Yugoslav Republic of Serbia, but that ethnic Albanians' radical demands were blocking it. Kosovo-Metohija Information Secretary Bosko Drobnjak was responding to foreign reporters' growing interest in the "current situation, views of the conflict and steps to be taken to cut the Kosovo-Metohija knot," the Pristina-based Secretariat said. "I believe that the answer lies in a dialogue which would entail compromise and goodwill on both sides. Unfortunately, we are not meeting with goodwill on the part of the other side. As everybody well knows, all they want is an independent Kosovo.

Naturally, this is a poor position on which to base a dialogue. We want a dialogue that would guarantee the full sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and Yugoslavia, on the one hand, and all rights for the ethnic Albanian community in line with the highest international standards, on the other," Drobnjak said.

COOK: BRITAIN STRONGLY OPPOSES TERRORISM Tanjug, 1998-03-05 British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said Thursday in Belgrade before leaving for London that the European Union and Britain strongly opposed terrorism and expected the situation in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo-Metohija to be resolved through a political dialogue between Yugoslav authorities and representatives of ethnic Albanians. Cook told the press at the airport that his country, too, had experienced terrorism and that Britain and the EU had a firm stance against anyone resorting to terrorist activities. Cook said he understood the stance of Serbia's Government that Kosovo is an internal issue, and pointed out that the EU advocated the respect of human, minority and civil rights. The EU urges for the immediate implementation of the agreement on education in the province, Cook said. Cook denied media reports that the Special US Envoy Robert Gelbard had announced the undertaking of military actions in Kosovo. No one speaks about military actions as a political solution must be found through diplomatic means, Cook said. Cook added that he would present a report on his visit to Yugoslavia to the forthcoming meeting of EU foreign ministers at the end of next week. Among other things, the British Foreign Secretary said he had conferred with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on the normalization of relations between Yugoslavia and the European Union.

MILOSEVIC RECEIVES COOK Tanjug, 1998-03-05 Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received on Thursday British Foreign Secretary and Chairman of the E.U. Council of Ministers Robin Cook. The talks dealt with relations and cooperation between Yugoslavia and Great Britain, the promotion of Yugoslavia's relations with the European Union and the current situation in the Balkans. The interest was stressed in strengthening the two countries' relations still further, especially as regards economic cooperation. Yugoslavia's expectation was voiced that Great Britain, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, would back the development and promotion on the footing of equality of the European Union's relations with Yugoslavia, which is doubtless a key factor of strengthening stability and peace in the region. Referring to issues in Kosovo and Metohija, Milosevic said they could be only resolved within Serbia. Serbian authorities clearly differentiate between ethnic Albanians and ethnic Albanian terrorists, with the former often being the victims of terrorist attacks. As regards terrorism, all will be done to put an end to it, while as regards issues requiring political solutions they will be carefully dealt with, in the process of which national equality of all citizens will be respected. Yugoslavia is making a continual effort to help successfully implement the peace process in its immediate neighbourhood and, through its policy of openness, it urges the strengthening of mutual understanding and confidence, based on the footing of equality and the principle of non-interference in countries' internal affairs. Also present were Yugoslav Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic and British Ambassador to Yugoslavia Joseph Brian Donnelly.

04-MAR-98 23:30 NNN KOSOVO/ITALY: ITALY ACTS TO EASE TENSIONS IN KOSOVO

(ANSA) - Rome, March 4 - Italy is working to ease tensions between the sides in conflict in the Kosovo Province and convince them they must shoulder their responsibilities to avert a worsening of the crisis, said Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini. Speaking at a cabinet meeting today, during which he also discussed his recent trip to Tehran, Dini focused on the line Italy has pursued in contacts with the other European Union countries, Albania, the United States and within the Contact Group and the G-8. The minister stressed the need to block the escalation of violence in the Kosovo Province, whatever its origin, and immediately embark on direct talks between Belgrade and Pristina. Initial priority in these dealings, he affirmed, must be placed on schooling to provide adequate responses to problems linked to the ethnic and cultural identity of the overwhelming ethnic-Albanian majority of Kosovo. He recalled for this cabinet colleagues that he will discuss these issues with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright during her visit to Rome Friday and Saturday.

05-MAR-98 14:15 NNN YUGOSLAVIA/ITALY: SESSA HOPES TO EASE TENSION IN KOSOVO

(ANSA) - Belgrade, March 5 - Italian ambassador to the Yugoslav Republic Riccardo Sessa arrived in Pristina today to stress the importance of dialogue in resolving the dispute between the ethnic Albanian majority in the Kosovo region and authorities in Belgrade. Violence has been mounting there for weeks ahead of the March 22 elections in Kosovo called by the Albanian majority but not recognized by Belgrade authorities. The latest clash left 20 dead and 130 injured. The Italian government has remained steadfast in its condemnation of the violence and its call for talks between the two sides. It has urged the prompt application of the agreement on reopening schools in the region, brokered with the help of the Rome-based Saint Egidio Community and supported by the European Union. Sessa is scheduled to meet with political leader of the Albanian majority Ibrahim Rugova, a delegation of students and Serbian officials.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Increasingly concerned over the continuing tension in Kosovo which led to the killing of 24 people over the weekend, Ankara on Wednesday reiterated its call for prudence and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

"Turkey is concerned that Kosovo may turn into a second Bosnia. Turkey felt the Bosnian tragedy deep in its heart. We are very sensitive about the issue, and we want to prevent a repetition of the Bosnian drama," Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem told reporters in Madrid, where he is accompanying President Suleyman Demirel on his official visit to Spain.

"The international community should take the Kosovo problem very seriously and take immediate action before more blood is spilled," he added, according to the Anatolia news agency.

Also on Wednesday, State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said that in addition to contributing to the peace efforts in Kosovo, Turkey aimed at having a leading role in the solution process.

Speaking at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul on his way to Bosnia for the meeting of the Turco-Bosnian Joint Economic Council, Gurel stressed that, "Finding a democratic solution to the democratic demands of the Kosovo people should be a priority in the international efforts on the subject."

Meanwhile, an official from the Istanbul-based Balkan Turks Culture and Solidarity Association told the Anatolia news agency that some 20,000 Turks living in Kosovo were also in danger due to the upheaval. The Kosovo Albanians, who have been struggling for independence in the region, "do not entertain very warm feelings for the Turks there and refuse to cooperate with them," the official said.

Concerned over the possibility that the Kosovo turmoil could spread to the rest of the volatile Balkans, Ankara on Tuesday urged the parties to "immediately start a dialogue for a peaceful solution within the framework of Yugoslavia's territorial integrity."

Turkey has strong historical links to Kosovo's ethnic Albanians, who constitute 90 percent of the population in the region and has built close military ties with Albania since the end of the Cold War.

Info

A COMBINE ATTACK BY POLICE-MILITARY AND PARAMILITARY FORCES AGAINST SOME VILLAGES OF SKENDERAJ

Based on the available informations we have got from the field associates at this day, in early morning hours started a combined attack by police-military and paramilitary forces in the villages of Skenderaj. Large police punitive forces came from many directions. From Komoran in the direction to Skenderaj were noted 70 military vehicles. From Mitrovica to the direction of Skenderaj were noted military forces and this road is blocked for communication. From Glllogovc on the same direction three buses and military forces were noted too. Likewise, from Peja on the same direction were seen large police forces too. However, from Klina on the same direction were noted 5 military vehicles, l2 trucks, 6 buses full of police forces bearing Nish plates. The villagers of Ujmire, Shtarice and Si�eve have abandoned their villages already. In Gllogovc there have come large police forces. Its a high alert situation. Many police forces have surrounded the village of Gjocaj in Junik. We were informed that one person has been shot down but the news not confirmed. During the police attack in villages Prekaz, Llaushe, Polac, Morine and Mikushnice were used heavy weapons, cannons even the signal flares. Many houses are burn to the ground, however the house of the family Jasharaj is demolished completely. Many causalities have been reported.There are many killed and assaulted. Many villages are already abandoned and they are heading in the direction of Mitrovica and Vushtrri.

Prishtina,March 5,l998 10,30 a.m. Information Service

[04] KOSOVO APPEALS FOR TURKISH SUPPORT Yesterday, State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said that in addition to contributing to the peace efforts in Kosovo, Turkey aimed at having a leading role in the solution process. Speaking at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport on his way to Bosnia for a meeting of the Turco-Bosnian Joint Economic Council, Gurel stressed that "Finding a democratic solution to the democratic demands of the Kosovo people should be a priority in international efforts to resolve the issue". /Cumhuriyet/

[19] FUTURE OF THE BALKANS A meeting on the "Future of the Balkans" organized by the Aspen Institution in Berlin has begun in Istanbul. Academicians, scientists, representatives of non-governmental organizations, businessmen and press members are attending the meeting which started yesterday morning. The recent developments in Kosovo, the future of the Balkans and Turkey's role in securing a long lasting peace in the Balkans are the topics of the meeting. President Suleyman Demirel will make the closing speech of the meeting on 7 March. At the end of the meeting a report of the Balkans International Commission will be submitted and foreign and domestic representatives will discuss their views. /Sabah/

BBC EU 'gravely concerned' over Serbian action Thursday, March 5, 1998 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- EU 'gravely concerned' over Serbian action The British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, who is representing the European Union, has returned empty-handed from his meeting with the Yugoslav president, Slobodan Milosevic. He called for greater autonomy for Kosovo and an end to the violence there, but said he was not leaving Belgrade more hopeful than when he arrived.

"The solution to the crisis in Kosovo is not going to be met by policing actions," Mr Cook said. "We expect firm action on terrorism, but within the law - not above it."

Mr Cook's urge for restraint went unheeded. On Thursday, Serbian troops launched a police operation against ethnic Albanians in the troubled province, killing at least 20 people.

Mr Cook said violence could "all too easily spill over" the borders of Yugoslavia, which groups Serbia and Montenegro.

He also stressed the international community could not stand by while Belgrade used "repressive" police measures and said the way to isolate "terrorists" was to meet the "legitimate demands of the majority of decent, moderate, peaceful people."

Preferred option

Restoring the province's autonomy seems to be the preferred option of both the European Union (EU) and the United States.

A BBC correspondent in Pristina, Nenad Sebak, says the ethnic Albanians seek greater US involvement in the region. He told the BBC World Service's Europe Today programme that the ethnic Albanians were not convinced the EU had the necessary muscle to solve their problems.

Kosovo's autonomous status was revoked in 1989 by Mr Milosevic, provoking a campaign of civil disobedience against rule from Belgrade by the ethnic Albanian majority.

The Serbian Information Minister, Radmila Milantajevic, told BBC World Service's Newsday programme that limited autonomy for the region was a possibility, but that there would have to be conditions.

International concern

Foreign ministers of the six-nation Contact Group on the former Yugoslavia are holding emergency talks on the Kosovo crisis on Monday. It will be the group's first emergency meeting since the end of the Bosnian war.

Mr Cook said they would "have to consider what steps to take next" if President Milosevic proved unreceptive. Serbia is already suffering under economic sanctions.

Balkan countries are also pressing for talks about Kosovo after the violence. The Albanian Prime Minister, Fatos Nano, asked neighbouring Greece to mediate in the dispute.

On Thursday, Albania's Foreign Minister Pascal Milo urged the United States and Europe to intervene to avert a new war in the Balkans.

On a visit to Paris he argued that President Milosevic was as dangerous as Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and must be treated accordingly.

"I trust in a joint US and European diplomatic initiative to resolve the crisis.

"We have a Saddam Hussein in the Balkans called Milosevic, who must be treated the same way."

A spokesman for the Greek government said Kosovo would be central to the visit to Belgrade by the Greek foreign minister on Friday.

Macedonia, Turkey and Bulgaria have also joined in urging talks.

Kosova Information Center KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1362i Prishtina, 5 March 1998

Ninth Edition: 19:30

ARMED SERB ATTACK IN DRENICA CONTINUES UNABATED

Serb forces reportedly launch attack on Llausha village late afternoon

PRISHTINA, March 5 (KIC) - A resident of the Llausha village told the Prishtina-based Bujku newspaper by phone at around 18:30 today (Thursday) that Serb forces had launched an attack on this village from three directions: Klina, Skenderaj and Peja (in Serbian 'Pec'). In a telephone conversation, the Kosova Information Center (KIC) learned at 16:45 hrs that the Llausha village of Skenderaj (in Serbian 'Srbica') was being held under siege by Serb forces. Electricity was reported cut off at Llausha, and reaching it be phone is very difficult indeed. An LDK source from Llausha said in the afternoon the Serb armed attack on Prekaz village was going on. This source said shooting was being heard still from A^areva and Vojnik& villages of the Skenderaj municipality. A huge Serb police build-up was reported in Skenderaj. Serb forces, backed by heavy military equipment, launched an attack in the morning today, targeting the Prekaz village first. The village, neighboring on Llausha, was reported shelled with cannons. Local people of the Drenica region outside the area where Serb armed operations were going on have been fleeing in panic throughout the day.

U.S. Could Intervene Militarily if Belgrade Expands War into Kosova, Gelbard Says

PRISHTINA, March 5 (KIC) - The United States, deeply concerned about escalating violence in Kosovo, remains prepared to intervene militarily if necessary, Robert Gelbard, President Clinton's envoy for the Balkans told press in Washington on Wednesday. Reuters has quoted Robert Gelbard as saying that he would join "its European allies at a special meeting in London next Monday that could threaten new sanctions on Yugoslavia if President Slobodan Milosevic does not act to ensure tensions with Kosovo are resolved peacefully" Foreign ministers and state secretaries of Contact Group members states - United States, Germany, Britain, France, Russia and Italy - are expected to meet in London on Monday to address the recent situation in Kosova. "We continue to be prepared to deal with this problem (of Kosovo), with Milosevic, with his military and with his police, using every appropriate tool we have in our command," Gelbard told a meeting of the Defense Writers Group. U.S. policy, which for years has held that Washington would respond militarily if Belgrade expanded the Balkan war into Kosova, "has not changed," Reuters quoted Gelbard as saying The prospect for violence in Kosovo has been building for some time and "we have warned Milosevic about this and he is going to have to face the consequences of his actions," he said.

Serbian Police Prevents Kosovar Women's Protest in Front of American Center in Prishtina

PRISHTINA, March 5 (KIC) - The Serbian police prevented this afternoon Albanian women from staging a protest rally in front of the United States Information Service (USIS) office in Kosova's capital Prishtina. Called by a local organization, the League of Kosova Women, the gathering was scheduled to begin at 17:00 hrs. The women were expected to protest the ongoing Belgrade-sponsored campaign of violence in Kosova, and to urge the United Stated undertake necessary steps into making the Belgrade regime end it outrageous armed attacks against people in Drenica, central Kosova. Hundreds of women were denied access to the Dragodan neighborhood in Prishtina where the American Center is located. Serb police patrols were stationed in all the key positions leading to the Center.

Political Parties in Albania Urge the World Act Urgently in Kosova

PRISHTINA, March (KIC) - Over 20 political parties and associations in Albania, including the major opposition party, the Democratic Party of Albania of former President of Albania Sali Berisha, have issued on Wednesday a joint statement "denouncing in the strongest terms the massacre committed by the military and police Serb forces on February 28 and March 1, in the Kosovar region of Drenica, as well as the police violence on the peaceful protesters, approximately 300 thousand people in Prishtina, on March 2. In a ten point statement Albania's political parties note that Milosevic is to be held responsible for the ethnic cleansing in former Yugoslavia and "is also ready to apply the same stand against 2 million Albanians in the Republic of Kosova. The Drenica massacre indicates the public start of the application of the platform of the extermination of the Albanians". Calling on the international community - Security Council and the other UN bodies, the Group of Contact, the OSCE, the NATO, the EU, the WEU - to intervene energetically to prevent the conflict from escalating. " We request the offer of facilities to NATO and WEU in Albania, so that these organisms fulfill their mission to guarantee the stability in the region", the statement reads. The political parties of Albania call on the USA and the European Union to "provide assistance and support for the normal development of the March 22, 1998 election in Kosova; and to join their efforts for the solution of the Kosova problem, by immediately organizing an International Conference to this end", reads the statement.

Fresh Serb attack in Drenice, dramatic situation in Kosove

PRISHTINE, March 5 (ATA)-By Belul Jashari, Heavy Serb forces backed by armoured cars this morning launched a fresh military attack on Albanians in Drenice. The Serb forces, fortified around the Prekaz, Laushe villages, are shelling Albanians' homes. The Serb forces are also using heavy machine guns in their assaults in Prekaz, sources from Skenderaj, from the Human Rights Council and the Kosova Centre of Information told ATA. Serbs' gunfire has killed and wounded many Albanians, Albanian sources say. A grave situation is also prevailing in the Gllogoc town in Drenice, which is seiged off by big Serb forces terrorizing the the Albanian unprotected population. Many Albanian families have left their homes in Gllogoc since last night and have been sheltered in remote villages. The Gllogoc residents today are staying indoors and the roads are deserted. Meanwhile the villages of Modrine, Krusheve, Polluzhe and Rozalle have also been surrounded. The Serb forcesin their attacks are making use of machine guns, rockets, mortars as well as helicopters. In face of this situation the residents are trying to flee in the direction of the mountains. /r.xh/pas/lm/

New Serbian forces in Kosova

By Belul Jashari

PRISHTINE, March 5 - New Serbian military and police forces are moving towards Kosova from Leposaviq through the valley of Ibri. Other Serbian forces have reached Kosova recently from the direction of Podujeve. Sources in Skenderaj report that the house of Shaban Jashari in Prekaz was burned. This house was also attacked during January; several houses were in flames due to bombings by missiles and cannons. Prekazi is continuously attacked by cannons and many houses are ruined, recent reports say. The Albanian population in this village and other parts of Drenice is being terrorized and massacred, sources in Skenderaj say, but because of the grave situation in the attacked areas, there are no reports on the number of killed and wounded. Many Albanian families are leaving the villages of Drenice, thus carrying out huge ethnic cleansing. There are also many Serbian forces in Prishtine, and many snipers are installed in different points, and even near the headquarters of the Kosova Presidency. Also, the Ministry for Information of the Kosova Republic reports that the Serbian snipers have shelled the headquarters of the Kosova Presidency in Prishtine. The meeting of the Coordinating Council of the Kosova political parties, scheduled for Thursday, has been put off. /fh/pas/mt/

Serbs reportedly attacking Kosovo villages

PRISTINA, Serbia (March 5, 1998 06:42 a.m. EST http://www.nando.net) guerrillas, Serb and Kosovo Albanian sources reported.

The Albanian-run Kosovo Information Center said a dozen villages were targeted across a wide area of the Drenica region west of Pristina, the provincial capital, where around 30 Albanians and Serb police died in fighting last weekend.

First reports said the villages of Prekaz and Lausha in the southern Serbian province were shelled by security forces who included Yugoslav army troops as well as police with tanks.

Firing started in the early morning and residents of Srbica, one of the main towns in the Drenica region, which has an Albanian population of 60,000, said houses were burning in Prekaz.

The assault appeared to be concentrated on the homes of two extended Albanian families identified as Jasharaj and Lustak, the information center said.

Other police attacks were reported on villages around Mitrovica to the north, it added.

Serb sources in Pristina who refused to be identified confirmed that a major attack had been launched but did not give details.

A statement by Serbian police said only that a hunt was under way for attackers who lightly wounded two Serbian policemen in an early ambush on a road near Srbica.

The fighting erupted as British Foreign Secretary Serb Robin Cook, representing the European Union, prepared to meet Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade to urge peace talks with Kosovo Albanians demanding independence for Serbia's southernmost province.

The EU and the United States fear uncontrollable violence in Kosovo following weekend killings that inflamed nationalist anger among Albanians who make up 90 percent of the two million population of Kosovo.

The dead included 10 men from the Ahmeti family who died after apparently surrendering to police who battered down the defenses of their walled homestead with an armored car in Quirez village three miles east of Prekaz.

Serb sources said the Ahmetis were thought to be involved with the clandestine KLA, which has claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks on Serb security forces over the last two years.

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) said Prekaz was under "strong and continuous fire from Serb forces."

Serbian authorities have not previously used the army in operations against the KLA.

Milosevic has garrisoned Kosovo with heavy forces of police armed with military equipment, including Russian-built Hind attack helicopters, to contain Albanian resentment since the province lost its autonomous status in Yugoslavia in 1989.

By JOVAN KOVACIC, Reuters

Fresh round of violence in Kosovo

PRISTINA, Serbia (March 5, 1998 7:42 p.m. EST http://www.nando.net) - Serbian police forces killed 20 alleged guerrillas and found underground bunkers containing an arms cache and makeshift operating theaters in an assault on an Albanian nationalist village in Kosovo province Thursday, Tanjug news agency reported.

Two policemen were also killed in the capture of the village of Prekaz, raising the death toll in clashes between Serbian police and ethnic Albanians to at least 50 since the weekend.

Tanjug said police found four bunkers in Prekaz including one where they captured eight Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) men. One bunker held concealed weapons and two others contained hospital equipment including beds, operating tables and medical supplies.

A day after Washington hinted it might take military action against Yugoslavia if the struggle for independence by the ethnic Albanian majority in Kosovo ignited a war, President Slobodan Milosevic made clear he regarded the issue as a purely internal matter.

Milosevic told British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, on a European Union (EU) mediation mission to Belgrade, that he was determined to wipe out "terrorism," which he blamed on the separatist KLA.

Albanians said Prekaz was one of a dozen villages in an area west of the Kosovo capital of Pristina that Serbian security forces attacked with armored vehicles and helicopters Thursday.

Serbian police said the action was in response to an early morning KLA ambush in which two policemen were wounded.

A similar official explanation was given for an attack last weekend on the neighboring villages of Qirez and Likosane in which at least 25 Albanians and four Serb policemen were killed.

Many Albanians left the area after the latest clashes, while menfolk stayed behind to defend their homesteads against Serbs, who are outnumbered nine to one by Albanians among Kosovo's 1.8 million population.

The upsurge in violence and Milosevic's message to Cook were a direct snub to U.S. and EU mediators who have been trying, with threats of sanctions or military intervention, to force Belgrade into a compromise with the Kosovo Albanians.

While denouncing "terrorism," the West has urged Milosevic to give in to demands to restore the autonomy that was stripped from Kosovo in 1989.

Cook said Milosevic brushed aside the threats and maintained "a robust position," insisting that Kosovo's future was an internal issue for Serbia to settle.

Cook told reporters on his return to London: "If you want to defeat terrorism, you can't just do that by policing activities. What Kosovo needs is a political solution."

Countries in the region have reacted differently to the crisis and the threat that violence could spread beyond Kosovo's borders to other Balkan territories.

Opposition parties in Albania urged the United States to honor a promise made by former U.S. President George Bush to use armed force to protect the Kosovo Albanian cause.

Greece, a long-standing ally of Belgrade, said such intervention on the territory of a sovereign country was unthinkable.

By JOVAN KOVACIC, Reuters.