War Briefing: Day 58

NATO's campaign:

NATO's campaign:

The first of 24 US Apache attack helicopters have finally arrived in Albania - to boost the firepower of NATO forces. The low-flying Apaches are spotted flying into Tirana's Rinas airport, scheduled staging post for troops and support equipment once the helicopters go into action against Serb armour.

NATO air strikes hit prison in Istok, 45 miles west of Pristina; kill 19 people including the deputy governor and injure at least 10, Serb media report. Media say prisoners and guards among the casualties; more than 20 missiles were fired. The prison governor told reporters at the scene that 15 missiles fell on the area in the space of two hours.

Four missiles hit petrol depot in Belgrade; the blast shatters windows of Swiss ambassador's residence as he hosts a National Day reception: Among the guests is the Swedish ambassador whose own residence had its doors and windows blown out the previous night when a stray bomb hit a hospital, killing four people.

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Diplomacy:

Yugoslavia calls on NATO to halt air strikes and withdraw troops from the borders of neighbouring countries as pre-condition for a political settlement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nebojsa Vujovic tells news conference. As to whether Belgrade will accept NATO troops as part of any peacekeeping force, he said Yugoslavia was ready to accept a UN mission in Kosovo whose "mandate, modalities and volume" should be agreed in direct talks between Belgrade and Kofi Annan.

Refugees:

Hundreds of Kosovo refugees reach Albania and officials say they expect thousands more, in the first sizeable arrival for a week. An OSCE spokesman says field monitors who can see up to six miles into the shattered province estimate about 2,000 people are on their way but the number could rise.

A policeman at the border insists about 7,000 people are on their way. The first group, which arrived on foot, appeared to comprise women and children mostly; this is the general pattern among the hundreds of thousands who have fled.

And...

French and Italian humanitarian food and medical aid supplies stopped at one border crossing into Kosovo from Montenegro and confiscated by the Yugoslav authorities; there is evidence that the economy is being disrupted.

Sheaspeak:

There is a build-up of Yugoslav forces inside Montenegro. Clearly, we are preoccupied with these signs and we continue to watch them, very closely indeed.

We have obviously expressed apologies for any inconvenience which was caused (to governments whose embassies in Belgrade were hit by bombing).

We always listen to whatever governments say to us - we are an alliance based on that principle.

Naturally, the military commanders will continue to take every precaution to hit the targets accurately.

Quote of the Day:

"I think these governments understand fully well that this damage, if it occurs at all, is wholly unintentional and that we are making every effort to strike military targets with the accuracy that you would except from the alliance, and which is certainly making this air campaign, by a long shot, the most accurate use of air power and the most discriminatory use of air power in the history of human conflict." Jamie Shea