Aide to Ethnic Albanian Leader Wounded in Kosovo Suburb

Gunmen wounded an aide to a leader of Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians in a possible attempt to derail any settlement for the troubled province short of independence from Serbia.

Serbia, meanwhile, continued to shrug off NATO threats of an armed strike if violence in Kosovo is not halted and claimed its latest offensive in the southern province has ended with success.

Sabri Hamiti was shot late Thursday in front of his house in a Pristina suburb, sources close to pacifist separatist leader Ibrahim Rugova said Friday. Two bullets ended up just above Hamiti’s heart, and one broke his arm.

Hamiti, 50, is believed to be the closest aide to Rugova, the main ethnic Albanian political leader in Kosovo.

Rugova has showed readiness to negotiate an agreement for Kosovo that falls short of independence from Serbia. However, the Kosovo Liberation Army is bent on independence and has pledged to “punish” anyone who gives up that goal.

It was not clear who shot Hamiti, but the attack may be a warning to Rugova by more radical factions that reject any deal with the government of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

There have been indications that Rugova and Milosevic could sign a U.S.-backed agreement that would give Kosovo a degree of self-rule but would leave it part of Serbia and within Yugoslavia.

The militants, who controlled about 40% of Kosovo half a year ago, have largely been defeated by Serbian police and the Yugoslav army in seven months of bloody offensives.

While defense ministers from the 15 North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries threatened airstrikes and cruise missile attacks unless the fighting comes to an end, the Serbian government pledged to use all measures to wipe out the rebels, which it considers terrorists.

The Serbs also announced that the latest offensive on Mt. Cicavica was over and rebel Albanians had been wiped out.

Reporters who were within a mile of the area saw Serbian police and Yugoslav troops advance steadily on rebel ethnic Albanians who had fled their the mountain for surrounding hills.