While Russia and Nato continue to argue about the command structure of the military peacekeeping force inside Kosovo, the United Nations is trying to start imposing some order on the province's interim civil administration.

The UN has apppointed one of its senior officials, Sergio Vieira de Mello, as the interim special representative for Kosovo.

Mr Vieira de Mello will be in charge of the civil presence inside the province until a permanent representative is appointed.

He is the UN Under-Secretary General in charge of co-ordinating emergency humanitarian operations.

Mr Vieira de Mello led the UN assessment team which travelled through Kosovo while Nato's air strikes were still under way.

His report, which was scathing about what he called the rampage of killing by Serbian forces inside the province, impressed members of the UN Security Council.

Big job ahead

The civil task facing the UN is a massive one, including returning tens of thousands of refugees to their homes, rebuilding Kosovo's shattered infrastructure, setting up a new police force, and establishing new democratic institutions.

Mr Vieira de Mello is only temporarily in charge.

He will hand over to a permanent representative whenever one is appointed.