WHAT HAPPENED ON 6th April 1999?

5th April 1999

Milan'sCorriere della Seraattacks the

next president of the European Commission former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi for what it sees as his failure to speak out over Kosovo It says Prodi is using "the umbrella of his institutional responsibilities" to avoid taking a position on the conflict In Belfast theIrish Newssays that Thursday's statement by the British & Irish governments represents "no breakdown" in the Northern Ireland peace process.

6th April 1999

BRITAIN REJECTS YUGOSLAVIAN TRUCE OFFER

The British Government has denounced as worthless the declaration of a truce by Yugoslav & Serb officials. Downing Street said it wanted to see a complete withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo & Belgrade's agreement on an international force. This would oversee the return to their homes of the Kosovo Albanians & other refugees displaced by the fighting. Russia welcomed the truce but the US insisted Nato attacks would continue.

6th April 1999

HARRIERS ATTACK SERBIAN GROUND TARGETS

Italian-based RAF Harrier GR7s have launched their first air strikes against Serbian ground forces in Kosovo RAF spokesman Gp Capt Ian Travers Smith said the pilots were confident mobile Serb units similar to those accused of ethnic cleansing had been attacked. Nato has confirmed that operations are currently taking place against armoured units in Kosovo. Yugoslav press agency reports claim sites in Pec & Prizren have been hit.

5th April 1999

What People were saying on

"There is I fear a whiff of Mussolini in the air. Before we know where we are we shall be goose-stepping while pretending it is only a morris dance."

Actor Sir Alec Guinness on Britain.

"Some folk are clearly annoyed by Monica Lewinsky's new-found celebrity status. What do they expect her to do? Stay home & knit jockstraps for lonely sailors?"

DJ Boy George.

"What's so horrific about that? I cannot imagine a nicer way to go."

Horror writer James Herbert on death by drowning in a vat of molten chocolate.

6th April 1999

BRITAIN REJECTS YUGOSLAVIAN TRUCE OFFER

The British Government has denounced as worthless the declaration of a truce by Yugoslav & Serb officials. Downing Street said it wanted to see a complete withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo & Belgrade's agreement on an international force. This would oversee the return to their homes of the Kosovo Albanians & other refugees displaced by the fighting. Russia welcomed the truce but the US insisted Nato attacks would continue.

6th April 1999

CASH GIVEN TO DISRUPT DRUGS ROUTE TO UK

The Foreign Office has pledged £350 000 to try to disrupt the international drug trafficking route to Britain. Most of Britain's heroin originates in Afghanistan & money will go to a UN project trying to stop smugglers as they cross into neighbouring Tajikistan The UN Drug Control Programme will use the cash for projects including forensic work & sniffer dog training. FO minister Derek Fatchett said the money would help stop the smuggling. I

5th April 1999

Milan'sCorriere della Seraattacks the

next president of the European Commission former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi for what it sees as his failure to speak out over Kosovo It says Prodi is using "the umbrella of his institutional responsibilities" to avoid taking a position on the conflict In Belfast theIrish Newssays that Thursday's statement by the British & Irish governments represents "no breakdown" in the Northern Ireland peace process.

6th April 1999

BRITAIN REJECTS YUGOSLAVIAN TRUCE OFFER

The British Government has denounced as worthless the declaration of a truce by Yugoslav & Serb officials. Downing Street said it wanted to see a complete withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo & Belgrade's agreement on an international force. This would oversee the return to their homes of the Kosovo Albanians & other refugees displaced by the fighting. Russia welcomed the truce but the US insisted Nato attacks would continue.

6th April 1999

JET CAPTAIN CRITICISED OVER BAD LANDING

The crew of a British jet carrying 220 passengers has been criticised for allowing the tail section of their Boeing 757 to strike the ground. The Airtours International jet was badly damaged in the 1998 incident. The landing in the Dominican Republic was aborted & the pilot flew on to a second airport. The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch found the captain had made "flawed decisions".

5th April 1999

THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES TO COME TO UK

Britain is ready to offer temporary homes to refugees who have fled the crisis in Kosovo says Downing Street. Numbers have not been discussed but Government sources said it would be "some thousands". Up to now Britain has insisted that taking in refugees would only assist Slobodan Milosevic's ethnic cleansing. The Government says refugees would be housed on a temporary basis until it is safe for them to return home.

6th April 1999

BRITAIN REJECTS YUGOSLAVIAN TRUCE OFFER

The British Government has denounced as worthless the declaration of a truce by Yugoslav & Serb officials. Downing Street said it wanted to see a complete withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo & Belgrade's agreement on an international force. This would oversee the return to their homes of the Kosovo Albanians & other refugees displaced by the fighting. Russia welcomed the truce but the US insisted Nato attacks would continue.

6th April 1999

TRIMBLE BACKS MORE MULTI-PARTY TALKS

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said he would welcome a multi-party meeting including Sinn Fein when new peace talks start in Downing Street. He blamed both republican & loyalist paramilitaries for blocking the new executive by refusing to disarm. Other parties not linked to paramilitaries recognised disarmament as an obligation he said. He also criticised Sinn Fein's refusal to back the Hillsborough declaration.

5th April 1999

Milan'sCorriere della Seraattacks the

next president of the European Commission former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi for what it sees as his failure to speak out over Kosovo It says Prodi is using "the umbrella of his institutional responsibilities" to avoid taking a position on the conflict In Belfast theIrish Newssays that Thursday's statement by the British & Irish governments represents "no breakdown" in the Northern Ireland peace process.

6th April 1999

BRITAIN REJECTS YUGOSLAVIAN TRUCE OFFER

The British Government has denounced as worthless the declaration of a truce by Yugoslav & Serb officials. Downing Street said it wanted to see a complete withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo & Belgrade's agreement on an international force. This would oversee the return to their homes of the Kosovo Albanians & other refugees displaced by the fighting. Russia welcomed the truce but the US insisted Nato attacks would continue.

6th April 1999

MINISTER BIDS TO DEFUSE SCHOOL PAY ROW

The Government has tried to defuse a row over teachers' pay by saying performance-related salaries will not be applied nationally this year. Schools minister Estelle Morris said the coming academic year would be a test year "to get the system right". But the new pay scheme would start in September 2000 & would link pay at least in part to pupils' achievement. The National Union of Teachers has threatened strike action over the row. I

5th April 1999

Milan'sCorriere della Seraattacks the

next president of the European Commission former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi for what it sees as his failure to speak out over Kosovo It says Prodi is using "the umbrella of his institutional responsibilities" to avoid taking a position on the conflict In Belfast theIrish Newssays that Thursday's statement by the British & Irish governments represents "no breakdown" in the Northern Ireland peace process.

6th April 1999

BRITAIN REJECTS YUGOSLAVIAN TRUCE OFFER

The British Government has denounced as worthless the declaration of a truce by Yugoslav & Serb officials. Downing Street said it wanted to see a complete withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo & Belgrade's agreement on an international force. This would oversee the return to their homes of the Kosovo Albanians & other refugees displaced by the fighting. Russia welcomed the truce but the US insisted Nato attacks would continue.

6th April 1999

SERBIA DECLARES UNILATERAL CEASEFIRE

Yugoslavia has declared a unilateral ceasefire in Kosovo the country's Deputy Prime Minister has said. Vuk Draskovic said actions against the Kosovo Liberation Army would stop for the Orthodox Easter break this weekend. He also pledged to work with moderate Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova for a peace deal that would allow the return of 400 000 refugees who fled Kosovo. But he said Serb forces would withdraw only if Nato stopped its air strikes.

5th April 1999

BELFAST PARADE STARTS MARCHING SEASON

The first parade of the loyalist marching season has passed off peacefully in Belfast. For the third year in a row the Apprentice Boys of Derry turned back at a barrier blocking their entry to the mainly nationalist Lower Ormeau Road. A handful of police were on duty at the parade which has been the focus of much controversy in the past. Earlier the Lower Ormeau Concerned Community called off a counter protest.

6th April 1999

BRITAIN REJECTS YUGOSLAVIAN TRUCE OFFER

The British Government has denounced as worthless the declaration of a truce by Yugoslav & Serb officials. Downing Street said it wanted to see a complete withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo & Belgrade's agreement on an international force. This would oversee the return to their homes of the Kosovo Albanians & other refugees displaced by the fighting. Russia welcomed the truce but the US insisted Nato attacks would continue.

6th April 1999

WELSH NATIONALISTS LAUNCH ELECTION AIMS

Plaid Cymru is promising a "new beginning for Wales" as it launches its campaign in the Welsh Assembly election The nationalist party's leader Dafydd Wigley said confidence was high that Labour would be denied an overall majority of the 60 seats. He said his party was the only credible alternative to Labour in Wales. The Liberal Democrats unveil their proposals tomorrow the Conservatives on Thursday & Labour next week.