France warns Russia over Kosovo

THE FRENCH President, Jacques Chirac, has told Russia's President, Boris Yeltsin, that the United Nations may need to order military intervention in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo, unless a ceasefire and new peace talks come soon.

Mr Chirac said military action ordered by the UN Security Council "will become difficult to avoid", an aide of the French leader reported. In an hour-long telephone conversation, Mr Chirac noted "the crucial role" Russia had played in the conflict, with its close historical ties to the Serbs in Yugoslavia.

Mr Chirac also planned to contact Germany's Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, the aide said.

The French President told Mr Yeltsin he was worried about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the mainly ethnic Albanian province, where about 230,000 people have fled their homes to escape fighting between the Serbian-led Yugoslav army and Kosovo rebels seeking independence from Belgrade.

Aid officials are warning of a humanitarian disaster if the conflict drags on through the winter. At the end of her two-day visit to Kosovo, Emma Bonino, the EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, said: "If the existing situation continues ... no humanitarian efforts will be able avert a major humanitarian crisis and suffering, particularly in view of the coming winter," she said.

Ms Bonino said the European Commission has already given more than $7m (pounds 4.3m) in aid to Kosovo, but appealed to donors to more.