Members further pledged to review the decision in December 2008 at the meeting of NATO foreign ministers.

But the 19 NATO ministers who will ultimately decide whether to deploy the full force are concerned about the status of the cease-fire.

NATO ministers began planning for possible military action.

But an American official said there was now no way to resolve it in time for the meeting of NATO foreign ministers.

The meeting of NATO foreign ministers will follow the Venice meeting.

In response, NATO foreign ministers warned at a meeting of the alliance against such action.

A communique from NATO ministers did not mention the region.

Members of the press got it before most other NATO ministers.

This matter was also discussed last week with the NATO foreign ministers in Iceland.

The topic was more seriously treated later by the NATO foreign ministers in Reykjavik.