"In the next two to three weeks, we need a political breakthrough on a peace resolution," said a veteran NATO diplomat.

The calendar is not the only pressure on NATO diplomats and generals.

"This has been one of the thorniest issues," said a senior NATO diplomat.

Yet the deeper meaning of the Lance is political, NATO diplomats say.

NATO diplomats said the allies would meet again this weekend to back up that ultimatum with a credible threat to use force.

"A consensus is emerging that the time has run out on inaction," a senior NATO diplomat said.

"It would be a mistake to say the consensus is on three," a senior NATO diplomat said.

"Our niche will be leadership training," a NATO diplomat said.

"The sequence used to be full political agreement, followed by an international peacekeeping force," the senior NATO diplomat said.

"On the other incidents, they believe all they hit was military targets," a NATO diplomat said.