But the two sides still disagreed on the exact timetable for the Serbian withdrawal, the order of the troops and the number of Serbian forces who would later be allowed to return to the province, Shea said.

The talks -- which adjourned for several hours during the morning were set to resume at the Kumanovo military base in the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia around noon today.

The delegations, which had talked all night, took a breakfast break and then met for internal discussions among themselves.

The US Cable News Network (CNN) said talks would resume when the Yugoslav delegation returned to the venue. The Yugoslavs had driven back across the border to consult with officials in Belgrade.

Earlier, a NATO spokesman said there had been ``intense and constructivediscussions on both sides'' during the marathon session on implementing the military-technical aspects of the Kosovo peace plan.

A NATO military spokesman said he was cautiously optimistic that an agreement on the withdrawal from Kosovo of the Yugoslav army and of Serb special police would be signed.

The technical talks on NATO's entry into Kosovo were also interrupted for a few hours overnight to give the Yugoslav delegation an opportunity to check back with Belgrade.

The talks were led by NATO's force commander British Lieutenant General Michael Jackson, while the Yugoslav team was represented by army deputy chief of staff, General Svetozar Marjanovic.

The military representatives are working out the timing and technical details for the withdrawal of about 40,000 Yugoslav troops from Kosovo, and the entry of a 50,000-member NATO protection force.

The two sides reportedly also still disagree on when the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation should stop its bombing of Yugoslavia. NATO wants to stopbombing only when its has verifiable evidence of a Serb withdrawal from Kosovo.

The Yugoslavs reportedly want a bombing pause before they will pull out.

Meanwhile, NATO warplanes maintained their attacks on Serb industrial and military targets overnight and early today.

A NATO spokesman in Brussels said alliance warplanes again attacked Serbian troops in Kosovo, destroying eight tanks and eight artillery guns.

Observers in Yugoslavia said the bombardment overnight was lighter than bombing has been in recent days.