Natural Sound On the eve of the KLA's official disbandment, tens of thousands of Kosovar Albanians gathered outside Pristina Saturday for what they hope will be the last military funeral. They buried 72 KLA soldiers who were killed in the final battle against Serbian forces. The soldiers, members of the 123rd brigade, were killed in one of the last Serb offensives of the Kosovo conflict in the region of Suva Reka. Their bodies were spread in the woods and fields of Kosovo and were gathered recently for burial with full military honours. Thousands gathered for what will probably be the last funeral for KLA soldiers. Under June's disarmament accord, the Kosovo Liberation Army has pledged to be fully demilitarised by midnight on Sunday. The KLA will be forced to turn over its heavy weaponry, most of its arms and uniforms. The process will be organised in a series of stages. NATO peacekeepers are expected to stockpile the arsenal. While the K-L-A marched through the streets of Pristina for perhaps the last time, local residents paid their last respects to the soldiers who died during the conflict. Seventy two K-L-A soldiers, members of the 123rd brigade, were buried Saturday. The soldiers were killed in the region of Suva Reka. It was one of the last Serb offensives of the Kosovo conflict. Their bodies were spread throughout the woods and fields of Kosovo. In a massive operation their bodies were gathered for burial. KLA troops formed an honour guard and fired a rifle salute as the coffins were lowered into the ground. It was probably the last time K-L-A soldiers were allowed to use their rifles as they paid their respects to their dead comrades. Relatives bearing flowers and portraits of the dead wept openly. German KFOR troops were also present at the funeral. You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/b57ec75755986f01320e0037241ccab3 Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

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