Thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes after Serbian police, soldiers and armed civilians flooded into the north of the province.

The region came under prolonged bombardment by tanks and heavy machine guns before Serbian troops moved in, burning the villages and hamlets they passed through.

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic launched a military operation to put down rebellion in Kosovo in February, but this is the first time his forces have entered the guerrilla stronghold around Drenica.

Trenches

The Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) is fighting for the mainly Albanian population of the province and is seeking greater freedom from Serbia.

The KLA has built up a network of trenches and bunkers in the area, but is only lightly armed and it could do little under the sustained attack but assist the new refugees of this conflict.

The United Nations Security Council has repeatedly condemned President Milosevic's action in Kosovo and today passed a resolution which issues an ultimatum to the Serbian Government.

The ruling demands Belgrade end the fighting and enter talks with separatist groups on the future of the province or face military intervention from the international community.

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