A region under threat
Bosnia: Still recovering from a brutal war that pitted ethnic Serbs against Muslims and Croats, Bosnia is patrolled by 30,000 NATO-led troops. They could be threatened by Serb retaliation.
Macedonia: A mixed region composed of eastern-rite Macedonians, Albanian Muslims, Bulgarians, Serbians and Croats, Macedonia has been flooded by up to 40,000 Kosovo Albanian refugees in the past year. A 12,000-strong Western force made up of American, British, French, Italian and German troops is stationed in the country.
Albania: One of the poorest countries in Europe, Albania -- which is predominately Muslim -- has been caught up in border fighting between KLA and Yugoslav forces. Thousands of Kosovo refugees have come across the Albanian border.
The situation in Kosovo
Serb aims: Serbian forces have been shelling and burning villages in an arc across northern Kosovo. Some analysts believe the Serbian plan is to cut off the north and drive ethnic Albanians into the south.
Serb forces: Some 40,000 troops of the Yogoslav National Army, backed by armor and artillery, are operating in Kosovo. Serb paramilitary forces also have been active in the province, terrorizing Kosovar villagers.
Kosovo Albanian forces: The Kosovo Liberation Army is a lightly armed guerrilla force numbering in the thousands. It has specialized in ambushes and hit-and-run attacks and is considered no match for the Uugoslav army in direct conflict.
Refugees: More than 250,000 Albanians have been forced from their homes in Kosovo, according to the United Nations. Tens of thousands have left the province.
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