Russian NATO envoy Dmitry Rogozin says the US planned military aid package for Kosovo will eventually arm 'ex-terrorists' in the region.

Reacting to George Bush's move to approve a military aid to Kosovo, Russia's ambassador to NATO warned Thursday that such an action could foster "new terrorist clashes in the Balkans."

"To give former terrorists weapons for the war against terrorism appears at least amusing if not worse," the Interfax news agency quoted Rogozin as saying from Brussels, according to DPA.

"It is well known that those in power in Kosovo came in as the organizers and leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, which many states recognized as a terrorist organization," he said.

Bush Wednesday authorized military aid to Kosovo in another step to establish formal relations with the newly independent country.

The US was among the first countries to recognize Kosovo immediately after it unilaterally declared independence.

RB/MMN