NATO Allies Debate Kosovo Strike

U.S. mediator Richard Holbrooke on Wednesday ended talks with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on ways to end the Kosovo crisis and headed for Brussels without speaking to reporters.

Hoping to avoid the threatened NATO air strikes, Holbrooke met Milosevic to try to persuade him to withdraw all Yugoslav forces from Serbia's Kosovo province, CBS News Correspondent Tom Fenton reports.

In Europe, NATO allies are divided over when a new U.N. Security Council resolution would be needed to authorize air strikes.

The seasoned diplomatic troubleshooter avoided reporters after his third and final round of efforts to persuade Milosevic to bow to U.N. and NATO terms for a peace deal in Kosovo that would avoid allied air strikes against Yugoslavia.

A statement from Milosevic's office indicated there was no breakthrough. It accused the U.S. and its European allies of bias against Yugoslavia and warned that NATO threats "are obstructing the political process."

Milosevic's crackdown on the rebel Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) has killed hundreds and driven more than 270,000 civilians from their homes.

International concern over Kosovo increased last week after reports that Serb police had massacred dozens of ethnic Albanian civilians. Police deny responsibility.

The Serbs insist they are complying with U.N. demands to pull back troops in Kosovo. U.N. officials were invited Tuesday to film a convoy, but Serb officials refused to remove all of their security forces. Milosevic has repeatedly claimed there has been no military activity in the province for eight days, but is reluctant to remove troops, saying that KLA fighters are still a threat.

In the United States, military officials are getting troops ready should a NATO strike be ordered, reports CBS News White House Correspondent Bill Plante. An American task force for the U.S. carrier Eisenhower is maneuvering in the Adriatic. It is ready to launch cruise missiles and heavy air strikes against the Serbian armed forces.

Britain and France on Wednesday began advising their nationals to get out of the former Yugoslavia immediately. The United States and Canada have already taken measures to protect their nationals.

The strongest advocates for a strike are the British and the United States. The French would prefer a U.N. resolution. Germany wants a meeting of their parliament before anything is done.

If action is taken, air strikes could begin within days. On Tuesday, President Clinton said that the unrest in the province threatens the entire stability of the Balkans.

"What is already a humanitarian crisis could turn into a catastrophe," Mr. Clinton said.

The U.N. resolution demands hat Milosevic declare an immediate cease-fire, allow relief groups into Kosovo and begin autonomy talks with the ethnic Albanians.

Mr. Clinton stressed that the U.S. backs the U.N. demand.

"NATO is prepared to act if President Milosevic fails to honor the United Nations resolutions. The stakes are high. The time is now to end the violence in Kosovo," President Clinton said.

If NATO does use force, the U.S. has already committed to contribute air and sea power, including cruise missiles and up to about 200 aircraft.

If ground troops are necessary, they would be sent as peacekeeping forces. However, when questioned about that Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen said he was reluctant to have U.S. ground troops take part.