Russia prepares to send 9 more warships toward Kosovo

ANKARA [MENL] -- Russia is preparing to send nine more warships to the Mediterranean Sea to monitor NATO's air campaign against Yugoslavia, Turkish military sources said on Wednesday.

The sources, quoted by the military's news service, said the ships would leave the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles for the Mediterranean and then the Adriatic over the next week.

The news service said the ships would arrive in three groups. The first would leave for the Adriatic on Thursday, the second on Sunday and the last group on April 21.

Russia has denied the report.

Meanwhile, NATO warplanes braved the overcast and struck targets in Yugoslavia. NATO planes reportedly targeted a hydroelectric plant, a building and a railway bridge.

NATO officials said on Wednesday the improved weather would result in stepped-up attacks. The alliance has asked for another 300 combat jets from the United States, which would increase its fleet to 1,100 planes.

Germany released a plan for an end to the NATO campaign. Officials said under the plan NATO would decrease its attacks for 24 hours while Serbian troops withdraw from the Kosovo province. At that point, the officials said, the campaign would be halted entirely.