Sir Michael said he was giving "very close consideration" to deploying 3 Commando Brigade, currently on exercises in Oman and the UK's specialist winter and mountain warfare troops, inside Afghanistan.

BBC: UK troops set for Afghan role

In last month's raid, the biggest Nato-led operation in 18 months, hundreds of troops were deployed in the mountain town of Pale after intelligence was received that the former Bosnian Serb leader was in the area.

BBC: NEWS | Europe | Karadzic wife sues over Nato raid

Soon after the Moscow meeting, a large convoy of Yugoslav troops and armour moved to secure a mountain pass south of Pristina, Kosovo's capital.

ECONOMIST: Kosovo��s cauldron bubbles on