Countdown to the deadline

This is the timetable of events leading up to today's deadline for agreement in the Kosovo peace talks.

This is the timetable of events leading up to today's deadline for agreement in the Kosovo peace talks.

Jan 16th: Massacre of 45 ethnic Albanian Kosovans in the village of Racak, apparently by Serb forces, marks a worsening of the conflict and sparks international outrage.

Jan 29th: Foreign ministers of the six-nation Contact Group, meeting in London, summon the two sides to peace talks and set a threeweek deadline for agreement, backed by the threat of NATO air strikes.

Feb 6th: Talks formally opened at the French chateau at Rambouillet under the joint chairmanship of the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook, and his French counterpart, Mr Hubert Vedrine.

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Feb 16th: The US mediator, Mr Christopher Hill, flies to Belgrade for crisis talks with the Yugoslav President, Mr Slobodan Milosevic, who is resisting plans for a NATO peacekeeping force.

Feb 19th: Mr Hill returns to Belgrade but President Milosevic refuses to meet him, declaring: "We will not give up Kosovo, even if we are bombed." US announces it is sending long-range B52 bombers to Britain.

Today: Midday (11 a.m. GMT) deadline for the Rambouillet talks to conclude. 99101297