The Serb side also accepted the plan for autonomy in Kosovo, butBelgrade still had not agreed to a foreign military deployment on Serb soil, ministers and diplomats at the talks conceded. Serbs said they accepted the idea of autonomy but ruled out possibility of full independence for Kosovo.Before the 3:00 pm (1400 GMT) deadline passed, the Serb side conditionally approved political aspects of the contact group plan giving broad autonomy to the ethnic Albanian-populated province, diplomats said.PTI reports from Washington that US President Bill Clinton put the best face on the partial peace agreement reached on Kosovo on Tuesday, calling it `a significant step forward' in the search for peace and urging both sides to sign it next month.``The peace talks are a significant step forward in the search for a fair and lasting peace in Kosovo,'' Clinton said in a statement issued by the White House.

SUBSTANTIAL, SAYS ANNAN:

AFP reports today said the UN Security Council and UN chief Kofi Annan welcomed yesterday's political agreement for `substantial autonomy' forthe Serbian province of Kosovo. Annan hoped that the conference on March 15 `will result in a comprehensive interim agreement.'In a press statement, council members appealed to Belgrade and pro-independence Albanians to work constructively ahead of a further round of talks in France next month, and to avoid any action that could jeopardize the negotiations.Security Council president Robert Fowler said the Council ``noted with satisfaction that with the Rambouillet agreements, a political framework for substantial autonomy has been worked out.'' "The Council noted the commitment of the parties to attend a conference covering all aspects of the implementation of these agreements, in France on 15 March," Fowler added.