TEHRAN The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei Monday lamented the plight of Muslims in different parts of the world, particularly in Kosovo. What is overlooked in the Balkan war today, said the Leader, is the condition of the oppressed Muslims in Kosovo, and the aim of the enemies behind displacing the people of Kosovo in the streets, is to exterminate the Muslims and prevent the formation of an Islamic state in that region.

Ayatollah Khamenei, according to Tehran radio, made the remarks at a meeting with clerics, including preachers and congregational prayer leaders on the eve of the mourning month of Moharram (the month in which the third Shia Imam Hussein and 72 of his close aides were martyred). Your duty is to keep the path and movement of Imam Hussein (AS) alive, the Leader told the audience.

He added that sound religious propagation is the best way for encountering cultural onslaughts. Meanwhile, a leading official of the ``Islamic Community of Albania'' has lauded Iranian efforts to support the Kosovar refugees by sending relief aid to Albania. ``We appreciate the help of Iranian people. For Albanians it is well known that the first line of aid has been from Iran,'' Bujar Ahmet Mullahi, responsible for foreign relations of the Islamic Community of Albania told IRNA. ``The ambasador of Iran has been in the first line of this help,'' he stressed.

Mullahi said Albania and Iran are trying to strengthen relations in all sectors. He said several other Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and Turkey are sending relief aid to Albania. ``We pray to Allah to reward these countries for their support and help in this emergency situation,'' said the Albanian Islamic official. Iran till now has sent two plane-loads of relief aid to Albania, while another Iranian plane carrying aid for Kosovar refugees is expected here Tuesday. The Islamic Community of Albania is the seat of the Mufti of the country and is responsible for the Islamic affairs of Albania. Referring to his name Mullahi, the Albanian Islamic official noted that most probably he was of Iranian origin.

Meanwhile, NATO foreign ministers on Monday plotted their strategy on Yugoslavia with the United States conceding differences of opinion on whether any Serb forces should be allowed to remain in Kosovo. With NATO air strikes heading into a fourth week and Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic showing no signs of backing down, 19 NATO foreign ministers flew into Brussels to decide what to do next.

Later French Defense Minister Alain Richard said on Monday that Western countries could consider a Kosovo peace force not under direct NATO leadership as a concession to Yugoslavia. But any force sent in to protect the ravaged province and oversee a return of ethnic Albanians driven out by the Yugoslav army and police should have genuine military clout, he said. Richard was responding to suggestions that Germany would propose a peace force headed by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) rather than NATO. Bonn has denied it was taking any such initiative.

The idea of an armed protection force which would not be under direct NATO authority, as a concession, is entirely conceivable, Richard told France 2 television ahead of talks between NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. Richard also reiterated his opposition to any international arming of Kosovo Liberation Army guerrillas fighting for the independence of Kosovo. The goal is not to turn Kosovo into a permanent battleground.

It is not our aim to create a counter-guerrilla force which would last for years and years, he said.