Serbs Set Up Interim Kosovo Government

Serbian authorities, in their latest effort to head off NATO missiles and bombs, installed an interim government in Kosovo aimed at “normalizing conditions” in the rebellious province. The 18-member Interim Executive Council is part of a last-ditch effort to show that Serbs intend to end the conflict. The action came just two days before a report by U.N. chief Kofi Annan on whether authorities are complying with demands to halt their assault on ethnic Albanians. If not, Washington has indicated that North Atlantic Treaty Organization airstrikes will occur within two weeks.