Speaking at a press conference in Paris yesterday as he concluded his visit to France, Mr. Annan said there was no doubt that there have been "provocations and provocative attempts" particularly in the Presevo area, southern Serbia, near the eastern border with Kosovo. "It is clear that it is the Albanians who are now doing the most of this provocation," he added.

Officials of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), believe the situation in Presevo is "a repercussion" of the violence which first erupted in early February in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica. Members of the former Kosovo Liberation Army, or a new group that has emerged, are now fighting Serbian military and police in Presevo, forcing Albanian villagers to flee into Kosovo.

The Secretary-General said UNMIK and the international peacekeeping force (KFOR) were going to do everything they could to contain the situation and were determined to calm the situation in Mitrovica.

"They need the support of all the Member States and I hope the Member States will also be forthcoming if they need additional resources in terms of police, military and financial support," he said.

In Pristina today, KFOR spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Henning Philipp said the situation in Presevo was calm following a major success in the search for arms in eastern Kosovo, resulting in the confiscation of a lot of weapons and detaining some people. "I think it was a major setback for those guys who have been and still are trying to export violence from Kosovo to Serbia."

Assisted by the international peacekeeping force (KFOR), UNMIK is establishing the "confidence zones", in the centre of Mitrovica on both side of the Ibar River which divides the city, to give freedom of movement and security for the residents there.

UNMIK spokeswoman Susan Manuel said tear gas had to be used when some Serb crowds gathered in the area. Some four people were slightly injured and two UNMIK police vehicles damaged. But the situation is now under control and calm.

The head of UNMIK, Dr. Bernard Dr. Kouchner held "productive" meetings today with Serb leader Oliver Ivanovic and Albanian leader Bajram Rexhepi on the establishment of the "confidence zones".

Meanwhile, the Kosovo Transitional Council (KTC) today expressed "deep concern" over the continuing difficult security situation affecting all people in Kosovo, particularly members of minority communities.

"We reaffirm our commitment that all citizens and communities in Kosovo shall enjoy equal rights," said KTC in a statement issued after its regular meeting. It called on all citizens in Kosovo to interact in a peaceful and tolerant manner.

KTC also reaffirmed the right of all people to return to their homes in Kosovo and called on the international community and political leaders in Kosovo to facilitate the return of Albanians, Serbs and members of other minority communities to their homes in Kosovo.

It also urgently called on Kosovo Serbs leaders to take their seats in the Joint Interim Administrative Structure so as to work together with representatives of other communities.

The UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) spokeswoman Susan Manuel said in a press briefing in Pristina that "things have changed" since the night of violence on 3 February in Mitrovica when UNMIK started increasing the number of UNMIK police which has now doubled to more than 560.

She said by the end of this month UNMIK will have two special police units from Pakistan and Jordan, each with at least 100 officers. "They are trained in riot control and other specialized police work," she said.

Ms. Manuel said in February the international peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR) had the role of "police, correctional officers, lawyers" -- roles they were not trained to handle.

Amnesty International said in its report that the continuing wave of ethnic violence that erupted Mitrovica in February underscored the failure of UNMIK and KFOR to halt human rights abuses and find lasting solutions to the problems in Kosovo.

KFOR spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Philipp said, "We have nothing to hide and that's the reason we gave the representatives of Amnesty International free access to the detention facility.

"We are now looking into the findings and if we find out that mistakes were really made by soldiers involved, then we will take appropriate measures so that they cannot be repeated."

Ms. Manuel said UNMIK is about to introduce an ombudsman office that will assist people who have claims or allegations of human rights violations.

She said UNMIK promptly brought in an international judiciary after the February violence. "There was virtually no judiciary in Mitrovica at the time. We've since gotten one international judge and one international prosecutor and there will be more coming, " she said.

UNMIK has also been strictly enforcing the law on detention which stipulates that a suspect can be held for only 72 hours after which, she said, a judge must either order his further detention or charges must be filed.

The IAC made the call during its regular meeting today in which it discussed in length the role of the media in the local elections to be held later this year. The head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Dr. Bernard Kouchner, who informed the IAC that the elections have received approval from the UN Security Council, also said he opened a discussion with the Security Council during his recent visit to New York on the legal framework for Kosovo-wide elections at some later date.

The IAC also named a Kosovar, a Mr. Zenun Pajaziti of LBD (United Democratic Movement), as the co-head for the Department of Sport.

Following the IAC meeting, Dr. Kouchner expressed his outrage at the local Albanian newspaper "Koha Ditore" over an article published on Sunday containing allegations against the outgoing UNMIK Regional Administrator for Mitrovica, Mr. Mario Morcone. He said the story was "completely untrue", adding that Mr. Morcone, who has been replaced by General William Nash of the Untied States, was not only "not corrupt but he did a very good job".

Dr Kouchner demanded an apology saying the allegation was an insult to UNMIK.

With the launch of the new stamp series, mail service inside Kosovo will begin this week and international service should be available in mid-May, UNMIK spokeswoman Susan Manuel said.

UNMIK has opened 80 of 130 Kosovo post offices, employing 700 staff, with funding from the European Agency for Reconstruction. The agency will also donate 60 vehicles to the Kosovo postal service in late April.

All five subjects of the UNMIK stamps, designed by Kosovo artist Shyqri Nimani, represent aspects of the cultural and historical heritage of Kosovo. The 1 DM stamp illustrates a silver statue in Prizren of Mother Theresa, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, who was an Albanian. The 2 DM stamp features a map of Kosovo with sites of destruction, reconstruction, industrial wealth, natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Susan Manuel said the launch of the stamps is also an event for stamp collectors. First day covers go on sale tomorrow in six post offices in Pristina and in Ferizai, Prizren, Djakova, Peja, Mitrovica and Gjnilane. Outside Kosovo, collectors can order them from the UN Postal Administration in New York, Geneva or Vienna, or through their local stamp dealers.

UNMIK said in a statement that the registration was essential in providing public services to all residents and in building an accurate voter registration list in readiness for local elections to be held in fall this year.

Registration will take place during the spring and summer at 400 locations across Kosovo. Everyone over the age of 16 is required to register.

Mr. Tom Koenigs, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Civil Administration, told a media briefing in Pristina that UNMIK wants to include all those who rightfully belong to Kosovo, regardless of their ethnic group. "UNMIK wants to exclude those who have entered Kosovo illegally and do not belong to this territory, " he added.

According to the registration rules, people not living in Kosovo can register to vote, but they must show that they were resident in Kosovo on or before 1 January 1998. They must also prove their identity and residency through documentation.