Letter: Kosovo stalemate

Sir: In response to the massacres in Kosovo you have joined the predictable chorus demanding intervention in the name of justice (Leading article, 20 January).

The shocking images obviously stimulate a desire to do something, but where does this lead us? We will never solve this conflict with force, whether this takes the form of air power or the introduction of ground troops.

The only answer in the long term is to facilitate the replacement of Milosevic and ultimately the establishment of democracy in Serbia. The status of Kosovo will be an intractable dilemma, but de facto independence for Kosovo implemented, enforced and maintained by Western power will store up more conflict in the future.

DAVID JOHNSON

Sandyford, Staffordshire