April 2, 1999
Web posted at: 11:12 p.m. EST (0412 GMT)

In this story: 'Civilized' treatment for captive soldiers Feeding the Kosovo refugees RELATED STORIES, SITES

(CNN) -- Despite concern about three U.S. soldiers held by Yugoslav forces, U.S. Navy ships Friday night launched seven missiles on downtown Belgrade, Pentagon officials confirmed.

The cruise missiles struck "at the core of the regime's ability to conduct the campaign against the Kosovar Albanians," said Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon.

One of two ministry buildings in Belgrade hit by U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles  ALSO NATO missiles strike central Belgrade Albania, Macedonia seek support for refugees Behind the faces of captured U.S. soldiers The Geneva Conventions: Prisoners of war

At a news conference earlier Friday, President Clinton said he was determined to stay the course and determined to intensify the bombing.

That intention was echoed by Vice President Al Gore, who appeared in a taped interview on CNN's Larry King Live.

"We have barely begun the kind of damage that he (Milosevic) can expect to incur if he continues this," Gore said, referring to the Yugoslav assault on ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.

"I believe it's only a matter of time before he understands how much damage his military and security forces and other parts of his dictatorship will sustain if he continues this activity and does not allow these people to return to their homes with security and autonomy," Gore said.

'Civilized' treatment for captive soldiers

Gore also said the White House had put Milosevic on notice that he must protect the three U.S. servicemen Yugoslavia has taken captive.

"I can tell your fellow Americans that American prisoners of war, the three American soldiers, are safe and treated in a civilized manner" - Zivadin Jovanovic

A few hours before the Belgrade attack, Yugoslavia's foreign minister had said the captive U.S. soldiers were safe and secure.

"I can tell your fellow Americans that American prisoners of war, the three American soldiers, are safe and treated in a civilized manner," Zivadin Jovanovic said during a taped interview for CNN's "Larry King Live."

The Tanjug news agency in Yugoslavia said Belgrade officials have begun collecting evidence that will be used in a criminal proceeding against the three soldiers, who were captured Wednesday near the Yugoslavia-Macedonia border.

Jovanovic refused to say whether the three will face a trial.

"It is up to the authorities to investigate and to find particular surroundings and particular facts which will clarify the circumstances of their involvement in the aggression against Yugoslavia," Jovanovic told Larry King.

He did say that if Red Cross representatives applied to see the captives, they would be welcome.

The Swedish ambassador to Belgrade earlier had delivered a message from the United States to Yugoslav officials demanding that representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross be allowed to see the soldiers.

The Swedes "have not been able to obtain that access, and that is troubling to us," State Department spokesman James Rubin said Friday.

Yugoslavia broke off diplomatic relations with the United States after NATO airstrikes began, and Sweden is acting as an intermediary.

Since announcing that the soldiers were under investigation and would face trial, Yugoslav authorities have remained tight-lipped about details of their capture.

"We've seen reports that they have begun an investigation, but I don't know what that means," White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said Friday. "We've seen reports that they will have a trial and other reports they have decided not to -- clearly that would be the right decision."

Feeding the Kosovo refugees

McDuffie shows reporters a "Humanitarian Daily Ration" or HDR

U.S. and NATO troops will take a larger role in the relief efforts in Albania and Macedonia.

Giant C-5 transport planes at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware were loaded with 50,000 meals and other supplies to be delivered to Albania beginning Saturday.

The meals, which are similar to the military's "Meals Ready to Eat," or "MREs," have been used in similar crises in the past.

The meals going to Albania are tailored for people who observe a Muslim diet, containing no pork or other foods offensive to Muslims.

Tents, cots, water purification devices and other relief supplies are to be en route by April 10, Pentagon officials said.

Clinton said others caught in the crisis are desperately in need of help as well.

"We must be increasingly concerned about the plight of displaced people who are actually trapped inside Kosovo," the president said.

But the Pentagon said it would not drop humanitarian supplies into Kosovo anytime soon.

"We would be re-supplying the Serb military more than we would be feeding the Kosovars," Lt. Gen. John McDuffie, who serves on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Friday.

Correspondent John King and Producer Chris Plante contributed to this report.

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