Ethnic Albanians and Serbian officials will discuss how to protect the rights of Kosovo’s minorities today, putting the issue on the agenda for the first time during their United Nations-brokered talks on the province’s future status.

Harri Holkeri, the top UN administrator in Kosovo, is quitting two months early because of his health.

NATO sent US and Italian reinforcements to Kosovo yesterday after fighting between Serbs and ethnic Albanians killed 22 people and wounded hundreds, the worst violence since the war five years ago.

Yugoslavia’s former secret police chief and two other top security aides of former President Slobodan Milosevic were jailed in Belgrade today for revealing state secrets.