BRUSSELS (AP) - European Union officials recommended yesterday that the bloc take over policing Kosovo from the United Nations, adding the EU had a responsibility to help rebuild the troubled Balkan province. A report drafted by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn suggested the EU prepare for a police mission, which would be deployed after its future status has been decided. “The EU has a vital interest in a positive result of this process and the responsibility and means to contribute to such an outcome,” said their report, which will be analyzed by EU foreign ministers on Monday. “The EU is likely to play a leading role together with international partners... The EU could take on responsibilities in the police and rule of law and certain residual economic areas.” They also recommended the EU substantially increase aid to Kosovo.

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Judges in the trial of Slobodan Milosevic decided yesterday not to call British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder as witnesses, as requested by the former Yugoslav president. Milosevic had asked that they testify to support his defense that he was a peacemaker in the Kosovo conflict and the West had committed war crimes. “In their submission to the judges, the assigned counsel argued that both Blair and Schroeder possessed information that was necessary for the resolution of specific issues relevant to the Kosovo indictment against the accused,” the court said. “The trial chamber has examined the assigned counsel’s application and finds that the issuance of a subpoena is not warranted in relation either to Mr Blair or Mr Schroeder,” the court said in a statement.

Tests on a Romanian turkey have confirmed that the bird had the deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu, British officials said yesterday. Romania last month sent a turkey to Britain for further tests after it was found to have a form of avian flu. The bird was from the small village some 70 miles (110 km) west of the area where the virus was first detected in birds in the Danube delta in October. (Reuters)

Bulgaria will withdraw its 334-strong light infantry battalion from Iraq by the end of the year and after Iraqi parliamentary elections on December 15, Defense Minister Veselin Bliznakov said yesterday. With the decision, the poor Balkan state is speeding up a pullout originally expected to take several months. At Washington’s request, Sofia’s Socialist-led government delayed a plan to withdraw soon after winning June elections, but Bliznakov said troops would be home before the new year. (Reuters)