Thousands flee Kosovo conflict

Geneva - More than 34,000 people have fled from their homes in Kosovo, and increasing numbers are escaping into neighbouring Montenegro because of the mounting conflict in the Serbian province, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said yesterday. Serbian security forces launched a large-scale offensive on Monday against the ethnic Albanian rebels of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The operation, which left a trail of burning villages, took place despite the beginning of peace talks on Friday.