War in Europe: 23 reported dead as missile slices bus in half

MORE THAN 20 people died yesterday when a Nato missile slammed into a bridge in Luzane, north of the Kosovan capital, Pristina. The missile sliced a bus in two, sending part of the vehicle plunging down from the bridge. Journalists saw at least 15 bodies. The Yugoslav news agency, Tanjug, reported a death toll of 23.

The deaths came only a day after four civilians were killed in Montenegro, the smaller Yugoslav republic which has tried to stay clear of the war. Nato bombs destroyed a bridge and did extensive damage to the village of Murino, in the south-east of the republic, killing four or possibly five people and injuring eight.

The continued bombing of Montenegro, which has been hit hard in the past week, is theoretically intended to break the capability of Slobodan Milosevic's army. But the Montenegrin government argues that the political knock- on effect is likely to be disastrous, in terms of creating an anti-Nato mood in the republic. Montenegro, which is sharply at odds with the government in Belgrade, has tried to steer a reformist course, but is worried that a pro-Serb faction could stage a coup.

The West may be taking the differences between Serbia and Montenegro seriously for the first time. Yesterday President Clinton announced expanded sanctions against Serbia, while emphasising that Montenegro would be unaffected. Montenegro has been begging the West for such a sign - arguing not only that it needs economic support, but also that it is politically essential to show that the republic can in some way benefit from its lone stance against Belgrade. Officials complained that the "baffling" attack on Murino could bury the "peaceful and moderate policies" of the Montenegrin government.

Viktor Chernomyrdin, Russia's Balkan envoy, held six hours of talks with Milosevic. Initially he expressed optimism, but on his return to Moscow was cautious, saying: "It's not a big chance, but a chance."