(30 Jul 1998) Albanian/Serbo-Croat

More than 10-thousand ethnic Albanians have fled the town of Malisevo, which was captured by the Serb forces earlier in the week.

The town was once packed with ethnic Albanian refugees but is now a ghost town.

The refugees are on the move without adequate food, shelter or sanitation as the Serb offensive to clean the area from K-L-A guerrillas continues.

The town of Malisevo now lies empty, while elsewhere ethnic Albanian refugees are homeless.

This former guerrilla enclave in the central west was a strategic win for the Serbian military.

Earlier on Tuesday ethnic Albanians - seeking independence for Kosovo - abandoned Malisevo in their tens of thousands.

Many were refugees who fled when the Serbian force swept in and set about shelling and burning houses.

Now Serbian troops guard the smoking remains of Malisevo.

Their claim their assault on the town was minimal.

SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"In some places there was fighting but as you can see there is minimal damage to the town. When people saw us coming they fled."
SUPER CAPTION: Serbian police commander

Kosovo Albanians said they feared there would be a massacre of civilians.

Traders selling basic local produce and cigarettes and K-L-A (Kosovo Liberation Army) fighters populated the town.

Now the only sign of life was Yugoslav soldiers and Serbian police patrolling the streets and the town's perimeter.

SOUNDBITE: (Albanian)
"I was arrested by the Serb military after my family fled to the woods but I've been treated well by the Serb military."
SUPER CAPTION: Albanian man

International aid agencies say 200-thousand people have been displaced in Malisevo and have insufficient food, hygiene and medicine.

As tanks are transported in and around Malisevo, near Pristina there were reports that Serbian Armoured Personnel Carriers were spotted on board a train travelling towards Kosovo's interior.

Ethnic Albanians say all-out warfare and atrocities are going on daily while the world does nothing.

Smouldering and battered, it was opened to international journalists on Wednesday who got a tour of the Serbs' prize.

For most residents of Malisevo finding a safe place to stay is the most important priority.

They left the town with only as much as they could carry.

Local ethnic Albanian farmers in the area have stockpiled a limited amount of grain in anticipation of more fighting.

But the grain will only last a few days.

Some of those who've fled Malisevo spent Tuesday night sleeping in forests and plan to remain in the hills for fear of further shelling.

SOUNDBITE: (Albanian)
"Six weeks ago we ran from our homes and we have been on the move ever since. We have nowhere to stay. We left our houses and the Serbs burnt them."
SUPER CAPTION: Shoha Krasniqi, refugee

Kosovo Albanians said they feared there would be a massacre of civilians.

SOUNDBITE: (Albanian)
"As you can see the Serbs have trapped us. We were trying to defend our houses but they are massacring us, killing our children. As you can see, we have nowhere left to go. We have no medicine and very little food and I hope the world will take notice."
SUPER CAPTION: Muharem Telaku, refugee

International aid organisations have yet to reach the area around Malisevo and local doctors say medicines are in desperately short supply.

Many children are suffering from intestinal infections.

As these refugees spend another night in the hills, there's hope that progress was made in talks between the K-L-A and the U-S ambassador to neighbouring Macedonia Christopher Hill.



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