MOSCOW, Sept 8: Russian President Boris Yeltsin warned today that the planned expansion of NATO would be "a big mistake' which could trigger' a war throughout Europe, reports AFP

Expansion of NATO Is a big mistake The flame of war could spread throughout Europe. Yeltsin told a press conference here.

If NATO established Itself near Russia's borders there will be two military alliances In Europe. We will turn to our neighbours in the Common wealth of Independent States (CIS) and other countries and Europe will return to the past: There will be two alliances.'' he said

The North Atlantic Treaty organisation's partnership lor peace programme i-

aimed at the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. It provides for cooperation In training exchanges of offl cers and joint exercises Russia Is also a member

Yeltsin said NATO "should not be a military alliance, but a political organisation, and military forces should be shared so that each country ran command them in turn, like In the European Union '

"NATO Is bombing the Serbs and proposing that we sign an accord with it. Why would Russia sign an accord Il NATO is only capable of bombing." Yeltsin asked.

The three Baltic republics are among the countries In the former Soviet bloc a< lively seeking to join NATO.

The presidents of Estonia. Lal via and Lithuania on Thursday called for speedy

admission of their former Soviet republics of NATO during a one-day summit in the Estonian capital Tallinn.

AP adds from Sarajevo: NATO warplanes bombed rebel Serb targets on Friday as diplomats struggled to end 40 months of war in Bosnia on a more peaceful front: the negotiating table.

UN officials in Sarajevo reported that the air campaign against the Serbs continued overnight. Powerful explosions were heard shortly after midnight (2200 GMT Thursday) from around the Serb-held suburb of Lukavica. and Just before noon 11000 GMT) from Serb-held Hadzici to the southwest.

Meanwhile, a US envoy brought foreign ministers of Serb-led Yugoslavia, Bosnia

and Croatia together for the n' - - me •" more than a year and a half for talks on an American peace initiative And Russia stepped up its criticism of the NATO bomb ing campaign over Bosnian Serb-held territory

Assistant US Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke said Friday in Geneva, where the diplomats were meeting, that he hoped to have a major announcement later in the day

Airstrikes continued for a fourth day on Bosnian Serb targets Including communications facilities and ammu nition depots.

In Moscow. Russian President Boris Yeltsin continued his criticism of the airstrikes, and in Sofia Bulgaria, his foreign minister said the campaign may affect relations with Russia