But Balkan officials indicated that proceedings might continue for the rest of the day amid some predictions that the bargaining would

But Balkan officials indicated that proceedings might continue for the rest of the day, amid some predictions that the bargaining would yield only a partial agreement, covering constitutional issues, leaving the thorniest territorial problems to a later date.This would be a disappointment for the Americans, whose relentless efforts to broker a settlement have been mainly responsible for this best, and perhaps last, chance of a negotiated end to the war, though less of a blow than the outright collapse of the talks at Dayton, or a cosmetic and bogus overall agreement that could quickly fall apart.A peace settlement would divide Bosnia into two separate "entities," controlled by the Croat-Muslim federation and the Bosnian Serb on a roughly 51-49 basis, and linked by a weak central government.The Muslim-led government is adamant that the outcome must not be partition by another name, or a solution that permits the Bosnian Serb portion to secede and unite with Serbia proper.Further reports, page 11. In New York, the UN Security Council was poised to lift economic sanctions imposed in 1992 against the Serbian rump of former Yugoslavia, in the event of an accord.According to officials, two territorial disputes had caused the 11th hour hold-up: the corridor to link Sarajevo with Gorazde, the last remaining Muslim enclave in Eastern Bosnia, and another in the north of the country, to link Serb territory in western and eastern Bosnia, and which the Serbs insist must be widened.At midmorning, Nick Burns, the State Department spokes- man who repeatedly stressed Washington's determination that the talks must end yesterday come what may, insisted the "event" would take place in the afternoon. Waiting in the wings was President Franjo Tudjman of Croatia who arrived yesterday from Zagreb, predicting that a deal would be struck.In Washington, President Bill Clinton, who has promised 20,000 US troops to help Nato police a settlement, was said to be ready to participate in person, "if that would help them get an agreement", according to the White House spokesman, Mike McCurry. A session which was to wrap things up on Sunday evening continued until 5.30am yesterday, amid alternating predictions of imminent agreement and irretrievable deadlock.After a five hour break, the discussions resumed, but with no word by early afternoon of when the "event" was to take place.At the secluded complex at the Wright-Patterson US Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, where the multi-cornered negotiations were taking place, Warren Christopher, the Secretary of State, was shuttling between the delegations headed by Presidents Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia and Alija Izetbegovic of Bosnia, seeking to bridge outstanding differences. RUPERT CORNWELL Washington The Balkan peace talks went into a nail-biting extra time yesterday, as negotiators struggled to resolve crucial territorial issues still blocking an overall settlement to the 43-month Bosnian civil war, the bloodiest and most destructive European conflict in half a century.As the diplomatic world held its breath, US officials put off to an unspecified time an earlier deadline of a 10am EST (3pm GMT) "event" that would have been either a ceremony to initial a comprehensive peace treaty, or an announcement that the talks that began 20 days ago at a Midwestern air force base had failed.As the hours slipped by, the omens fluctuated wildly. He said it should be turned into a Scandinavian-style monarchy.Michael Brown, a Tory backbencher, said: "I don't think if they were divorced it would be end of the world. Most of my constituents are saying it is terrible situation and it is probably sensible to end it."The Windsor war, page 3Leading article, page 16.

Denis McShane, the Labour MP for Rotherham, called for a referendum on the Monarchy. Some Labour MPs believe the controversy should put the future of the Royal Family back on the political agenda. Many reported that support for her, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal remains high, in spite of a collapse of support in their constituencies for the rest of the Royal Family. And I'm not going to tell the firm what I'm doing,' " he said, adding that this amounted to "the end of the Princess of Wales playing by even the minimum of royal rules."Most MPs appear to hope that the Queen will withstand the controversy.

Dr John Barnes, a reader in government history at the London School of Economics, believes that the way in which the authority of the Queen was ignored has brought the prospect of a republican United Kingdom nearer."Quite simply, Diana is stating, 'I'm no longer playing the game the firm's way. A former minister said: "Yes, there will be a divorce but it means that Charles is finished."Constitutional experts said the Princess's decision to go ahead with the interview without consulting the Queen could lead to a full-scale constitutional clash. Whether we wait 12 months or two years is a matter of judgement It should take place in the reasonably near future. Public opinion has now broadly accepted that the marriage has irretrievably broken down."The divorce was the main topic of gossip around the corridors and bars at Westminster but views were divided over whether Charles should remain heir, or whether it should pass straight to Prince William. And the idea that the Prince of Wales can go to Westminster Abbey for the Coronation with [Camilla] Parker-Bowles while the Princess turns up in a carriage with one of her men friends is barking."Toby Jessel, a Tory member of the Commons select committee on national heritage, said: "I think divorce should take place. The Prime Minister told MPs three years ago: "There is no reason why the Princess of Wales should not be crowned queen in due course."A former Tory whip said: "The idea the Princess of Wales can be Queen is barmy.

There is widespread scepticism over the assurances given by the Prime Minister when he announced to the Commons on 10 December 1992 that Prince Charles and the Princess were separating after 11 years of marriage.There was total disbelief at the prospect of the Princess becoming Queen, if she remains separated from the future King. The palace said he had landed at the Princess's home because there was not space for everyone to land on the lawn at Buckingham Palace where the Queen gave a 60th-birthday lunch for King Hussein of Jordan.As the impact of the Panorama interview began to sink in, senior backbenchers were outspoken in their contempt for the Princess: "Divorce: make her a Duchess and let her go to California. If you take the job you have to take the package," said one source close to the Conservative Party leadership.The interview, which is thought to have been one of the most-viewed programmes ever shown by the BBC, appears to have hardened views against her at Westminster. At the end of last week the studio, which is normally open to all BBC staff, was swept for bugging equipment in a bid to head off possible leaks - although in the event the only leaks of the content of the interview appear to have come from the Princess herself.Prince Charles, who watched the programme at his home, Highgrove, in Gloucestershire, had earlier flown to Kensington Palace, although Buckingham Palace said he had not met his estranged wife. I'll fight to the end, because I believe that I have a role to fulfil, and I've got two children to bring up."Revelations that raise the stakes, page 3. COLIN BROWN JAMES CUSICK and MARIANNE MACDONALDPressure grew at Westminster last night for the Prince and Princess of Wales to agree an early divorce to avoid further damage to the monarchy in the wake of last night's BBC Panorama interview by Princess Diana.Conservative MPs, including ministers, last night said that the Prime Minister's assurance that the Princess of Wales could become Queen was no longer tenable after her acceptance in the interview that the marriage was over.The controversial interview was broadcast following an unprecedented security operation at BBC Television Centre, in west London, with only a handful of senior executive aware of its contents.Such was the secrecy surrounding the project that three former Royal Marines were detailed to guard the door of the G3 studio in White City where the programme's titles and credits were being added. There is widespread scepticism over the assurances given by the Prime Minister when he announced to the Commons on 10 December 1992 that Prince Charles and the Princess were separating after 11 years of marriage.A former Tory whip said: "The idea the Princess of Wales can be Queen is barmy."The Princess intimated last night that she had no intention of stepping aside quietly.The broadcast began with her speaking about herself in the third person she said: "She won't go quietly, that's the problem.

If you take the job you have to take the package," said one source close to the Conservative Party leadership.The interview with the reporter Martin Bashir, which is thought to have been one of the most-viewed programmes ever shown by the BBC, appears to have hardened views against her at Westminster. At the end of last week the studio, which is normally open to all BBC staff, was swept for bugging equipment in a bid to head off possible leaks.Prince Charles, who watched the programme at his home, Highgrove, in Gloucestershire, had earlier flown to Kensington Palace, although Buckingham Palace said he had not met his estranged wife. The palace said he had landed at the Princess's home because there was not space for everyone to land on the lawn at Buckingham Palace where the Queen gave a 60th-birthday lunch for King Hussein of Jordan.As the impact of the Panorama interview began to sink in, senior backbenchers were outspoken in their contempt for the Princess: "Divorce: make her a Duchess and let her go to California. I don't think I have been given any credit foir growth."Because of her comments, pressure grew at Westminster last night for the Prince and Princess of Wales to agree an early divorce to avoid further damage to the monarchy .Conservative MPs, including ministers, last night said that the Prime Minister's assurance that the Princess of Wales could become Queen was no longer tenable after her acceptance in the interview that the marriage was over.The controversial interview with Martin Bashir was broadcast following an unprecedented security operation at BBC Television Centre, in west London, with only a handful of senior executives aware of its contents.Such was the secrecy surrounding the project that three former Royal Marines were detailed to guard the door of the G3 studio in Wood Lane where the programme's titles and credits were being added. That's like a secret disease, you inflict it on yourself because your self-esteeem is at a low ebb."People suggested a number of times that I was wasting food. That was pressure in itself."Discussing her public image she said: "I have always been the 18-year- old girl he was engaged to. "I was ashamed that I couldn't cope and I hurt my arms and my legs I suffered bulimia for a number of years.