``I and everyone else have always said that we intend to see our objectives achieved and that we have not and will not take any option off the table,'' he told mediapersons yesterday.

This is in total contrast to his earlier comment that ``I do not intend to put our troops in Kosovo to fight a war.''

However, Clinton administration officials immediately rushed in with explanations that the latest remarks marked no change in Clinton's position.

Commenting on Clinton's remarks, the Wall Street Journal said, ``President Clinton has repeatedly said he has `no intention' of sending ground troops, but yesterday he appeared to soften his line.''

``Even as he insisted that the air campaign is working, he said he wasn'ttaking the ground troops option off the table and that `we will achieve our objective one way or the other.'''

Meanwhile, NATO planners warned that if NATO leaders were serious to have a ground invasion option, they must start mobilising forces by next month in order to be able to mount an invasion by the fall.

During a visit to Brussels earlier this month, said the Journal, President Clinton was privately warned by retired General Klaus Naumann, until recently the alliance's top general, that ``the window is rapidly closing'' on NATO'S options''.

The Journal also reported that NATO was actively considering a peacekeeping plan that could send as many as 45,000 troops to be sent into Kosovo once a peace settlement was reached.

Their deployment in Macedonia and Albania ahead of a settlement would keep the invasion option open, it said.