Letter: Useless Nato

Sir: If Nato accedes to China's demand for a halt to the bombing of Serbia before it is prepared to discuss any resolution to the UN Security Council on an international military force for Kosovo, any real pressure on Milosevic to comply with a resolution is removed. Milosevic knows that once stopped, some Nato countries would not want it started again. Equally, Milosevic knows that if Serbia endures the air bombardment it will soon run into the ground, with those same weak Nato countries breaking from it.

The only thing that can now save Nato from humiliating defeat is the credible threat of a ground invasion. If he sees that Nato is serious about a ground invasion, Milosevic will negotiate on Nato's terms.

J P MURPHY

Birmingham