War Briefing - Day 33

The Campaign

The Campaign

NATO warplanes destroy Zezeljev railway bridge in Novi Sad. Last remaining Danube bridge, destruction cuts link between Belgrade and central Europe, fuel depot also targeted near central Serbian town Valjevo, nine missiles hit military airport in Sombor, near border with Hungary, missile also struck Slankamen area but no casualties or significant damage reported; RAF claims targets hit in Kosovo include tanks, trucks, and electronic warfare site, artillery positions, and airfield at Pristina, RTS, Serbian state TV, back on air late Sunday.

British defence minister George Robertsopn rules out wholesale Kosovo invasion against opposing forces.

Red Cross officials finally allowed visit three Us Nato soldiers held since March 3lst.

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Diplomacy

Top Russian officials, including Balkans envoy Viktor Chernomyrdin, meet ahead of talks with US deputy secretary of state Strobe Talbot; Talbot expected to arrive late Monday in Russian capital; Chernomyrdin to visit Strasbourg Wednesday to brief Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly. Group of 19 left-wing German politicians and artists, including writer Gunter Grass and veteran foreign policy adviser Egon Bahr, urge Nato to observe 48-hour ceasefire. "Thirty-three days is enough," they say in statement warning of wider land war.

Refugees

Up to 30,000 refugees heading for Macedonia. Says state radio in Skopje; group includes entire population of Urosevac and neighbouring villages in Kosovo; 3,000 refugees arrive Monday, 2,000 behind them expected.

Refugees in Albania say Serbs holding group of women and children at munitions store in Prizren, 30 kms north of Albanian border town Kukes; first floor of three-storey building used for ammunition; second storey living quarters for military and third floor full of hostages, says UNHCR spokesman.

Unicef begins mass vaccinations of refugee children in Macedonia against measles, mumps, rubella, tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus.

Inside Serbia

In first voice of dissident within Milosevic regime, Yugoslav deputy prime minister Vuk Draskovic admits no signs of Nato disunity and world opinion is against the Serbs. "Not only did Nato not crack in Washington but it became stronger...Let's tell our people the truth (about Kosovo)...there will be no third world war...we are alone", comments interpreted in West as sign of growing disunity in Belgrade.

And...

World War III to start July in Balkans, last seven months and end in victory for Nato, says new analysis of Nostradamus by Stellenbosch university professor of political science Willie Breytenbach; he found references to conflict in 18 of the 950 quatrains of 16th century French seer. "In one quatrain he mentions the Slav people. He also mentions war in the mountains which. Taken with what we know and the talk of land forces, all gelled," he added. One quatrain mentions a tyrant whose name begins with "M", another notes Serbs "change their prince" - a possible reference to anti-Milosevic coup. "I have to emphasise I am a sceptic," says Breytenbach. "I am an academic who was bored on as Sunday. But what I found was so chilling that I put pen to paper.

Quote of the day

There has been organised systematic rape of women. Young men have been forced to dig graves and then shot. Whole villages have been razed to the ground. Some of the stories of the cruelty and barbarity practised by the Serb militia are evil beyond belief - Tony Blair, British prime minister.