WAR IN EUROPE: A WEEK OF CONFLICT

SUNDAY 25 APRIL

Nato strikes hit targets across Yugoslavia including an oil refinery in Novi Sad.

The Ministry of Defence says while Britain "must consider every option", it is "nonsense" to say it was planning to send in 40,000 troops.

Refugees arriving at the Macedonian border crossing at Blace report fresh atrocities saying Serb paramilitaries killed 56 ethnic Albanians in three villages in the south of Kosovo.

MONDAY 26 APRIL

Nato says criticism of Yugoslav government by Deputy Prime Minister Vuk Draskovic shows officials are worried. Nato knocks down last bridge in Novi Sad, hits fuel depot in Valijevo and attacks Sombor, near the Hungarian border.

Diplomatic effort continues: US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott meets Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and Balkan envoy Victor Chernomyrdin. Red Cross chief is given access to captive US soldiers in Yugoslavia.

TUESDAY 27 APRIL

Foreign Office says it has provided pounds 100,000 towards relaunch of Albanian- language newspaper Koha Ditore.

Military preparations escalate despite declaration that there is no date for sending in ground troops. US calls 2,100 military reserves to active duty, the first wave of a planned call-up of over 33,000 personnel.

300 British troops arrive in Greek port of Salonica to reinforce Nato in Macedonia; 1,800 expected in next few days.

WEDNESDAY 28 APRIL

Vuk Draskovic is dismissed.

Congress votes to limit President Clinton's authority to use ground troops.

Nato says a laser-guided bomb had gone astray on Tuesday and hit a residential area of Surdulica. Townspeople say at least 20 people died.

After meeting UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Strobe Talbott says no sign Yugoslavs are closer to accepting peace deal on Nato's terms.

THURSDAY 29 APRIL

International Court of Justice in The Hague says it will hear a Yugoslav suit against Nato countries involved in the bombing campaign. US dismisses the move as "absurd and frivolous". A resolution approving air strikes fails to pass Congress.

Refugees entering Albania tell of heaps of bodies slain and lying in the streets of the village of Meja.

UN refugee agency urges international community to speed up evacuation of refugees from Macedonia where camps are overflowing: "We are on the brink of catastrophe."

FRIDAY 30 APRIL

Nato jets conduct heaviest attack so far on Belgrade. Main Yugoslav army HQ and defence ministry are hit. State media says one woman killed and at least eight people wounded.

Victor Chernomyrdin meets President Milosevic. Yugoslavia says it has agreed a peace plan with Russia but Nato rejects it, because it discounts a peacekeeping force. Key element is that only unarmed observers under UN auspices would be allowed.

Thousands flee Kosovo's second-largest town Prizren, as tensions worsen. Refugee officials say Serbs are expelling doctors and other professionals to drive out the population.

UN agency says it now has clear evidence Serb forces massacred a large group of male refugees in Meja.

SATURDAY 1 MAY

Nato missiles hit targets in Serbia. Thousands of refugees pour into Albania and Macedonia. Serb media reports '"fierce" anti-aircraft fire heard at Sombor. Blasts also heard south of Novi Sad.