The United States and Russia have moved to minimise the Cold War-style divisions that have emerged over Kosovo as NATO continues to increase the size of its military force in the region.
But in a move which does not dispel uncertainty over the official attitude to ground troops, US army and air force reserves are to be called up, President Clinton said yesterday, because the NATO attacks on Kosovo were moving to "the next level".
The Pentagon was last night considering a NATO request for 300 more aircraft to be sent to the region, a move which would bring the total number there to 1,000. The request comes at a time when the focus of attacks is shifting to Yugoslav army troops and interior ministry police on the ground in Kosovo.
In Dublin, the Cabinet will today formally ratify the decision to accept up to 1,000 refugees fleeing the conflict in Kosovo, should Ireland be requested to do so.
A Government spokesman last night said Ministers would consider the logistical organisation involved in caring for the refugees as well as the financing of such an operation.
In Washington US Senator John Kerry fuelled speculation that ground troops might yet be deployed in Kosovo to ensure the return home of the province's population. The senator said that President Clinton had told Congress members at a meeting yesterday that the option of using NATO ground troops in the Kosovo conflict had not been ruled out.
"I heard from the President that . . . he does not personally believe at this time that they [ground troops] will be necessary to achieve the goal. But I also heard him say that he believes nothing essentially is off the table," the Massachusetts Democrat told reporters after the meeting.
Meanwhile the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, announced that 1,800 more British troops would go to Macedonia, bringing the total British contingent to over 6,300.
Mr Blair said the additional troops being sent would form part of the international force intended to be deployed in Kosovo once the Serbs have pulled out. In Oslo, the US Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright, and the Russian Foreign Minister, Mr Igor Ivanov, emphasised areas of agreement between them after four hours of talks, while conceding that they remained divided on the NATO attacks.
It is understood the Oslo talks explored options for Russian involvement in resolution of the Kosovo crisis, including possible Russian participation in any future international peacekeeping force.
At a press conference after the talks Mr Ivanov repeated Russia's call for an end to the air strikes. However, he did not repeat Russia's recent bitter condemnations of the NATO bombings but said the talks had been "very useful".
In another development, NATO's supreme commander in Europe, Gen Wesley Clark, apologised for the bomb which killed an estimated 10 train passengers when a bridge south of Belgrade was targeted and blown up. It was "an unfortunate incident" which everyone regretted, he said.
Albanian television reported last night that Serb forces had withdrawn from the northern Albanian village of Kamenica. Belgrade denied that the incursion took place. "The fighting has stopped. Several houses are in flames, but there were no casualties," the report said. This was the latest in a series of incidents on the Kosovo-Albania border.