BRUSSELS Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar stiffened the spine of Western policy on Kosovo on Tuesday, saying NATO must rule out no military option to prevent dictatorship from triumphing over human rights, Reuters reported. Aznar also said Yugoslavia had so far done nothing that would merit a pause in NATO bombing to make way for serious peace talks. In a strong message of solidarity that will be particularly welcomed by Britain, Aznar said the alliance must prevail in its struggle to force Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic into full compliance with international demands.

"We agree with the alliance military strategy, fully and wholeheartedly," he said "the alliance must succeed...if our policy is not successful we believe the policies of totalitarian regimes will be the winner. The premier also said that NATO must keep its option of a ground intervention in Kosovo up-to-date even if the current bombing strategy is producing reasonable results and should continued, AFP reported.