At a meeting yesterday at UN headquarters of countries contributing civilian police to the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), it was ascertained that there could be a shortfall of between 270-350 regular police. The total authorized strength of the regular force is 3,229.

The spokesperson said the UN is seeking other sources to bring the contributions up to full strength. There are currently 2,886 police in Kosovo, and this is expected to rise to some 3,180 over the next four weeks. The total authorized strength, including border and special police units, as well as regular police, is 4,718.

On Monday, the first complete Special Police Unit will become operational in Mitrovica, the spokesperson said. The 114-strong unit from Pakistan is the first of 10 units of special police scheduled to be deployed, including a contingent from India which will be deployed in mid-April and one from Jordan which will be deployed later in the month.

Describing the agreement as "a positive framework" for the return of Kosovars from Switzerland, UNMIK spokeswoman Susan Manuel said the repatriation will be staggered in such a way so as not to trigger mass returns.

"We are working with the Swiss to ensure that returns will be voluntary, orderly and that they take into account the accommodation situation in Kosovo," she said, adding that the Swiss have been "extremely generous" with funds for housing.

Ms Manuel said UNMIK also discussed with the Swiss government the question of the return of minorities, which is "very sensitive" due to the security situation in Kosovo and will be carefully monitored.

She said UNMIK also expected to receive advance notice on the arrival and detailed profiles of Kosovars with criminal convictions.

Yesterday's meeting agreed on the terms of reference for the mission to be headed by Ambassador Anwarul Karim Chowdhury of Bangladesh. Further details on the composition of the mission were still being discussed, a UN spokesman said in New York today.

The Council agreed last week to visit Kosovo following an appeal by the head of UNMIK, Dr. Bernard Kouchner, who briefed a private meeting of the Council on 6 March.

The UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) said the decision by the Serbs to participate in the Interim Administrative Council and the Kosovo Transitional Council has led to some tensions among the Serb community in Kosovo, according to the UN spokesman. The Serb National Council of Mitrovica has continued its boycott of the Joint Administrative Structure.

Today's demonstration comes a day after 220 troops of the international peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR) clashed with angry crowds of 300 Serbs in the village of Sevce, in southern Kosovo.

KFOR reported today that the confrontation erupted when KFOR troops arrested a Serb for illegal possession of two hand grenades. For several hours the defiant crowds erected barricades to block the US-led KFOR troops and attacked them with stones and sticks. Seventeen people were injured, including 12 KFOR soldiers, four Serbs and one civilian interpreter.

In another development, UNMIK reported that Serbian authorities early this morning detained three UNMIK police officers after they crossed the boundary near Gnjilane by mistake. UNMIK spokeswoman Nadia Younes said UNMIK was in touch with Serbian authorities to expedite the release of the police, who include two Jordanians and a German.

In response to some KTC members concerns over the slowness in setting up legal and judicial institutions in the province, the Principal Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Jock Covey, outlined some of the logistical problems encountered and some of the solutions proposed.

He also told the KTC that the decision by the Serb National Council of Gracanica to participate in local administration showed that moderate Serbs saw their future in Kosovo and were switching from confrontation to cooperation.

The co-heads of the Department of Local Administration also briefed the KTC on the situation in the municipalities.

The KTC also discussed a report on human rights by the special UN human rights rapporteur for former Yugoslavia, Mr. Jiri Dienstbier, which many members criticized. They agreed to address the issue at a working group meeting later today, which will draft a KTC response to the report.

"This is an important and courageous step which underlines the commitment of the Kosovo Serb representatives to take their rightful place in a multi-ethnic and democratic Kosovo," the Secretary-General's spokesman said in New York.

Serbs have been boycotting the Joint Interim Administrative Structure (JIAS) in which Kosovars participate in the administration of Kosovo alongside the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) in protest against insecurity for the Serb communities. Mr. Annan said he hoped that the Mitrovica chapter of the Serb National Council, which has continued its boycott, will soon join the JIAS.

The spokesman said the UN is determined to take every measure to ensure that the Serb community is able to live with dignity and in safety in Kosovo, and said that the Secretary-General hopes that the Serb community will soon feel confident to fully participate in the JIAS.

The Interim Administrative Council also today welcomed the decision. "The IAC is dedicated to work for a Kosovo which is home to all its communities and this decision by the Serb representatives is essential to building a new Kosovo," it said in a statement issued after its meeting today.

"This was not an easy decision, and it will not be an easy period for those Serb leaders who voted to join us. But this courageous move will open the way to a future Kosovo can be proud of, a future of democracy and real peace, with a place and a role for all its communities," said Dr. Kouchner.

Serbs have been boycotting the Joint Interim Administrative Structure (JIAS), including the Interim Administrative Council and Kosovo Transitional Council, mainly in protest against insecurity for the Serb communities. The Serb National Council said they would decide after three months on whether to participate fully, depending on improved security for the Serb communities.

The Council nominated Dr. Rada Trajkovic as observer to the Interim Administrative Council; Father Sava Janjic, Mr. Randel Nojkic and Mr. Dragan Velic as Serb observers to the Kosovo Transitional Council; and Mr. Dragan Nikolic as the co-head of the Department of Agriculture. The co-head of the Department of Labour is also reserved for the Serbs but has not been named.

Dr. Kouchner said the decision would also enable the return of those Serbs who fled over the past nine months. "We will now begin the common work aimed at achieving co-existence and eventually reconciliation," he said.

The Mitrovica branch of the Serb National Council is to continue its boycott of the JIAS. UNMIK spokeswoman Susan Manuel told journalists in Pristina today that the Serb National Council of Gracanica has left a seat open on the Kosovo Transitional Council for a representative of the Mitrovica Serbs.

Announcing this today, a UNMIK spokesperson said the house-rebuilding programme benefited more than 29,1000 people in three regions, Mitrovica, Peje and Pristina.

The government of Japan donated $5.8 million and France 20 million French francs ($2.92 million) for the reconstruction programme, which utilized materials procured internationally by the UN Office for Project Services and locally through local vendors. Provision of cash directly to the beneficiaries was another mechanism adopted to implement the programme.

The implementing partners of the programme included the Japanese non-governmental organization, ADRA, and the Cellule'Urgence of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Regional Administrators also relied on a number of UN volunteers.