http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1042000/1042193.stm

BBC WORLD NEWS EUROPE
Monday, 27 November, 2000, 00:20 GMT

Albanians flee southern Serbia

Hundreds of Albanian refugees have been
crossing from southern Serbia into Kosovo amid
fears of renewed fighting in the region.

The United Nations High Commission for
Refugees (UNHCR) said at least 1,200 people
had made the journey into the province from
Serbia's Presevo valley, and that more were
waiting to follow them.

The influx comes as a ceasefire agreed
between an Albanian guerrilla group and
Serbian interior ministry troops is due to expire.

After attacks by the guerrillas last week, which
left four Serbian policemen dead, Yugoslav
authorities set a Monday evening deadline for
Nato to clear out the militants from the
boundary region.

They have threatened to launch
counterattacks after the deadline passes.

Armoured build up

Many of the refugees - who are mainly being
housed with relatives in Kosovo - say they are
worried about an increase in Yugoslav forces in
the area.

Several families, looking clearly distraught,
reported seeing troops, tanks and armoured
personnel carriers moving into the region.

These developments follow several days of
intense fighting in which the Presevo
Medvedja and Bujanovac Liberation
Army (UCPMB) seized control of key Serbian
police checkpoints.

The guerrilla group, named after three Albanian
speaking towns in southern Serbia, first
emerged last February.

It is closely linked with the former Kosovo
Liberation Army and it's seeking the region's
independence from Serbia.

The UCPMB is believed to have been involved
in about 50 clashes with Serbian police in the
zone over the past year, as it campaigns for
its home area to be included in Kosovo's claims
for independence.

Kosovo has been administered by the United
Nations since June last year, after Yugoslav
forces were driven out by Nato's bombing
campaign, and K-For troops moved in.