KOSOVO: RUSSIAN K-FOR TROOPS KILL 3 SERBS

In the bloodiest incident of the three-month peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, Russian soldiers killed three Serbs who fired on them after refusing to stop an attack on Albanians. The gun battle took place in the American sector of Kosovo, in the southeastern part of the province. According to a NATO, the Russians rushed to the largely Serb village of Korminjane, northeast of Gniljane, early on Monday after reports of a firefight. Once they got to the scene of the gunfight, the Russian K-FOR soldiers ordered the Serbs to stop beating a wounded ethnic Albanian man. Two other Albanians, one critically wounded and one dead, were found in a nearby car. Instead, the Serbs shot at the Russians, who returned fire, killing three of them. There were no Russian casualties.

SOUNDBITE: (English) "The Russian patrol heard firing nearby, went to that site where the fire was coming from, found three individuals holding rifles beating an individual who was on the ground. At that point, they told the individuals to stop. They (the Serbs) turned and began firing on the Russian patrol. The Russian patrol responded with fire, defending themselves, killing all three individuals." SUPER CAPTION: Captain Larry Kaminsky, U-S Army The incident remains under investigation, but it appears to be in accordance with regulations allowing the 40-thousand NATO-led peacekeepers to use deadly force to defend themselves. NATO Secretary General Javier Solana gave his support for the Russians' decision, saying they had a right to defend themselves in difficult and life-threatening situations. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Let me say something about the Russian contingent. I think they are doing as professionally a job in difficult and dangerous circumstances as all other K-FOR countries, K-FOR troops. That has been very clearly shown. Also, this morning, with the firefight with three armed Serbs in eastern Kosovo. Therefore, they all deserve - the Russian K-FOR troops - our full support and all the support and all the respect."

SUPER CAPTION: Javier Solana, NATO Secretary General Ethnic Albanians accuse Russian troops of favouring the Serbs, fellow Slavs who share the same Orthodox traditions. They claim Russian mercenaries fought with Serbs during the 18-month crackdown against ethnic Albanians, during which an estimated 10-thousand people were killed. Despite the allegations, U-S and NATO commanders have said Moscow's troops have been evenhanded since arriving in Kosovo on June 12 to help enforce the peace agreement.