RUGOVA CALLS ON INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO HELP

( Editorial: --> 9360 ) PRISTINA, March 13 (Hina) - The President of the Kosovo Democratic Alliance, Ibrahim Rugova, on Friday reiterated his call on the international community, especially the United States and European Union, to support the requests of Kosovo Albanians and prevent further escalation of conflicts in Kosovo. Several villages in the Srbica municipality are still under Serbian police siege, causing the exodus of almost 13,000 people from the area, Rugova told a press conference in Pristina. Rugova did not say anything about a Serbian government offer for negotiations. Rugova's spokesman Djemail Mustafa on Thursday reiterated the stand of Kosovo Albanians, that the offer of the Serbian government was not serious and that talks with the Serbian government would be accepted only in case of mediation by a third party. (hina) jn rm/mrb 131601 MET mar 98