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World - Europe

NATO confirms 'mistakenly' bombing civilians in convoy

aftermath
Yugoslav authorities said at least 64 died in attacks on convoy
 
  
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NATO's Jamie Shea reads statement about accidental bombing of civilians (April 15)
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InteractiveIMAGE GALLERY:
The Kosovo refugees

Protesting the NATO strikes

Devastation of the Kosovo capital

The Serbs and Kosovo
 ALSO
Kosovo or bust, KLA guerrillas ready to fight

Convoys of Kosovo Albanians bombed; 85 dead

More U.S. warplanes head to Europe

 MESSAGE BOARD
Crisis in Kosovo
 MAPS
Gen. Wesley Clark describes NATO air campaign

April 15, 1999
Web posted at: 9:39 a.m. EDT (1339 GMT)


In this story:

Cook: Serbs cry 'crocodile tears'

Annan endorses call for peace deal

RELATED STORIES, SITES icon



BRUSSELS, Belgium (CNN) -- A NATO plane "mistakenly" bombed a civilian vehicle in a convoy in southwestern Kosovo, NATO said Thursday, confirming Serb reports.

"NATO confirms from its preliminary investigation that it appears one of its aircraft mistakenly dropped a bomb on a civilian vehicle yesterday," the alliance said in a written statement.

The alliance said that Serb military or police vehicles "may have been in or around the convoy" at the time of the attack.

Yugoslav officials said Wednesday NATO planes fired on two columns of ethnic Albanians in two separate attacks. Serb authorities have reported that between 64 and 85 died in the attacks and that 25 were injured.

NATO said it could not confirm any casualties.

Late Wednesday, ethnic Albanian refugees from a bombed convoy crossed the border into Kukes, Albania, and gave first-hand accounts. One witness said that the civilian convoy passed a Serb military caravan on the road between Djakovica and Prizren just before the attack.

"NATO regrets any harm to innocent civilians, and reminds that the circumstances in which this accident occurred are wholly the responsibility of (Yugoslav) President (Slobodan) Milosevic and his policies." NATO's statement said.

Cook: Serbs cry 'crocodile tears'

NATO's statement echoed that of British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, who earlier accused Milosevic and the Yugoslav government of crying "crocodile tears" over a conflict they started.

"I have to say that I will not accept the criticism that has been emanating from Belgrade from the very people who organize the mass ethnic cleansing of Kosovo, who have caused thousands of civilian deaths in Kosovo, and who have displaced from their homes hundreds of thousands of people in Kosovo," Cook said. "How dare they produce crocodile tears for people killed in the conflict for which they themselves are responsible."

Cook said it is important to keep in mind why the civilians were in the convoy in the first place. "I would like to ask President Milosevic about the refugees in that convoy. Would he like to remind us why they were refugees in the first place, what was it they were fleeing from, where were they being taken?" asked Cook.

bodies
Bodies at the scene of the attack

 

Annan endorses call for peace deal

On the diplomatic front, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan stressed Thursday that the United Nations should play a role in "legitimizing" a military presence in Kosovo and endorsed Russia's call for a peace deal.

Annan's comments came as Germany issued a new proposal calling for a pause in the bombing if Yugoslavia agreed to NATION conditions -- including an international peacekeeping force.

NATO called the German plan a "food-for-thought paper," but did not immediately endorse it.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, president of the European Union, said the EU ministers would push for a U.N. Security Council resolution incorporating the German proposal.

Annan called for all sides to work with Russia toward a solution. Russia strongly opposes the NATO airstrikes, which began March 24 when Yugoslavia refused to halt its crackdown on ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.

"If the international community is going to make progress on this issue, I think it's essential we all come together, and work with the Russians who are playing a very constructive role, and I'm in touch with them," Annan said.

NATO requirements for a cease-fire include withdrawal of Yugoslav troops from Kosovo and the safe return of several hundred thousand refugees forced to flee the fighting.

Correspondents Richard Roth and Catherine Bond contributed to this report.



RELATED STORIES:
Kosovo or bust, KLA guerrillas ready to fight
April 15, 1999
Week 4 begins; NATO warns attacks could continue for months
April 14, 1999
Convoys of Kosovo Albanians bombed; 85 dead
April 14, 1999
More U.S. warplanes head to Europe
April 14, 1999
Song honors captured U.S. soldiers; proceeds to benefit refugee relief
April 14, 1999

RELATED SITES:
Extensive list of Kosovo-related sites
  • Kosovo

Yugoslavia:
  • Federal Republic of Yugoslavia official site
      • Kesovo and Metohija facts
  • Serbia Ministry of Information
  • Serbia Now! News


Kosovo:
  • Kosova Crisis Center
  • Kosova Liberation Peace Movement
  • Kosovo - from Albanian.com

Military:
  • NATO official site
  • BosniaLINK - U.S. Dept. of Defense
  • U.S. Navy images from Operation Allied Force
  • U.K. Ministry of Defence - Kosovo news
  • U.K. Royal Air Force - Kosovo news
  • Jane's Defence - Kosovo Crisis

Relief:
  • Mercy International USA
  • Donations for Kosovo Refugees
  • International Rescue Committee
  • Mercy International USA
  • Unicef USA
  • Doctors Without Borders
  • World Vision
  • CARE: The Kosovo Crisis
  • InterAction
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
  • International Committee of the Red Cross
  • Disaster Relief from DisasterRelief.org
  • Catholic Relief Services
  • Kosovo Relief
  • ReliefWeb: Home page


Media:
  • Independent Yugoslav radio stations B92
  • Institute for War and Peace Reporting
  • United States Information Agency - Kosovo Crisis

Other:
  • Prayers for peace
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