Pristina - Kosovo rebels signed an agreement yesterday after a day's delay to transform themselves into a civilian Kosovo Corps, the NATO-led Kosovo peacekeeping force and rebel sources said.
"It was signed at 9.32 p.m.," said Kfor spokesman, Maj Ole Irgens. A source for the former rebel force also confirmed the signing, which took place a day after a Sunday midnight deadline for the pact to be agreed.
Earlier yesterday, the NATO commander of Kosovo peacekeepers warned ethnic Albanian rebels that their rejection of weapons restrictions, required by a deal to turn their movement into a civil defence force, was threatening Kosovo's future.
Lieut Gen Sir Michael Jackson issued the warning after negotiations on transforming guerrillas of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) into members of a civilian force missed a midnight deadline when the rebels balked at the restrictions.