A VICAR is calling for compassion for Nato chiefs currently under fire for their Balkans bombing campaign.

The Rev Rodney Nicholson, vicar of St Paul's, Low Moor, Clitheroe, said war leaders were facing "a burden of decision-making that few of us would like to bear."

He wrote in his parish magazine that his church members had been deeply affected by the crisis in Kosovo.

He said: "We feel anger at Milosevic, who appears unmoved, but even though he may escape an international trial for his war crimes he will not escape the judgement of God.

"We also feel for Prime Minister Tony Blair and other leaders facing a burden of decision-making that few of us would like to bear.

"I am sure they do not want to harm innocent Yugoslavians or damage the infrastructure of their country. They are simply doing what they feel to be the just and right thing."

He also called on people not to be dulled by the "appalling suffering" of Kosovar refugees and maintain their groundswell of compassion.

A collection at St Paul's Church recently raised £260 for Christian Aid's Kosovo Appeal. Church members also collected blankets and tinned produce to be sent to the homes of Albanians who are sheltering refugees.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.