There were also ``many wounded,'' the correspondent quoted local authorities as saying. They feared more patients might be buried under the rubble.

Beta news agency quoted Belgrade Radio as saying there had been refugees sheltering in the sanatorium.

On April 28, NATO warplanes missed a barracks in the town, killing at least 20 civilians.

Meanwhile, NATO's top commander in Europe, General Wesley Clark of the United States, said in an article published today that air strikes have reduced Serb forces to ``a mosaic of individuals'' struggling to carry out their ``cruel mission.''

In an article written for the French daily Le Figaro, Clark claimed that the Serb army is becoming increasingly depleted due to high-ranking desertions, revolt and malaise.

The Serb forces have been reduced to a state wherethey must remain hidden by day ``they only take up positions at night or in bad weather,'' Clark said.

He said NATO's bombing campaign ``has transformed the Serb forces, which previously were well equipped, efficient, and formidable, into a mosaic of individuals less capable of carrying out its cruel mission.''

Russia on the other hand has claimed that the Serb military, which has survived the NATO onslaught was ``itching to give NATO guests a hot welcome'' should it venture to invade Yugoslav soil.

Russia has accused NATO, especially the US, of arming ethnic Albanians and mobilising them to launch ground operations in Kosovo and other Yugoslav areas. Quoting defence ministry experts, Voice of Russia pointed towards NATO's hectic activities in Macedonia and Albania for its ``ground operations''.

Voice of Russia, qouting experts said the West would be dismayed at the response it meets at ``another Vietnam'' it meets there, in the event of its ``misadventure'', adding that some 60,000 NATO soldiers andmercenaries are stationed there for the forthcoming attack.

The radio added that in the light of the near failure of mediation efforts by Russia, Moscow is no more likely to play second fiddle to Washington's whims. Russia has its own interests in the Balkans and is interested in restoring normal relations between Serbia, the West and the goal of a single Europe, it said.

But, it added, the actions of NATO, and particularly the US, are pushing Russia towards consolidating its `Asian direction' of its foreign policy.