UN consultations on Kosovo put off to Friday

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Western sponsors yesterday postponed for 24 hours planned consultations in the UN Security Council on their draft resolution on Kosovo's future and will then decide whether or not to proceed to a vote depending on Russia's stance.

US Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters that the crunch talks initially planned for Thursday would now take place at 11:00 am (1500 GMT) Friday.

The 15-member council is to ponder the latest text formally introduced by Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and the United States late Tuesday but immediately rejected by Moscow, which like its ally Belgrade adamantly opposes independence for the Serbian province.

"The clarifying moment will be tomorrow, about where Russia stands...and based on that clarity there will be a joint press conference of the sponsoring nations" about their next step, he added.