Thursday, April 29, 1999 Published at 11:40 GMT 12:40 UK
'Massive crack' in Serb leadership
Plans exist to rebuild Kosovo say ministers
UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook has challenged the Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to tell his own people the truth over the conflict in Kosovo.
Mr Obradovic, leader of the Social Democratic Party and a former Serbian general, has been a strong critic of President Milosevic and has called for him to step down before his regime tumbles.
Mr Cook described him as one of the "brightest stars" of Yugoslavia's military elite and said Mr Obradovic "remains well connected with senior military figures".
This led the foreign secretary to wonder how many other military figures shared their former colleague's views.
The foreign secretary's remarks echo those made earlier by International Development Secretary Clare Short.
She said Serbia's sacked deputy prime minister Vuk Draskovic could gain the support of enough Serbs to challenge President Milosevic.
Three government ministers have quit in Belgrade in protest at Mr Draskovic dismissal.
"Clearly it's a massive crack in the government and we all want a settlement as quickly as possible - this could be a very good sign," Ms Short said.
The Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, is also meeting Russian leaders in Moscow on Thursday, as part of the effort to seek a ceasefire.
More than half a million refugees have fled the province since the Nato bombing began and witness reports of atrocities on the ground have continued.
Allied air attacks aimed at Serb forces and infrastructure on the ground have also hit Kosovo heavily.
During the daily Ministry of Defence briefing, a UK government spokesman said all Nato planes involved in strikes on Wednesday night returned safely after continuing raids on Serb communications and infrastructure.
British planes were heavily involved in the attacks, he said, with GR7 Harriers flying 11 missions, and Tornados and Sea Harriers flying six and four missions respectively.
The spokesman added that the battle group of the Irish Guards being sent to bolster Nato forces in the Balkans would be fully deployed in Macedonia within the next few days.
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