John Palmer in Brussels and Foreign Staff

A coalition of European Union countries, led by Italy is ready to despatch 3000 troops and police to protect a huge international humanitarian mission in Albania.

After the Albanian government warned that food reserves could be exhausted in 10 days, EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels gave a cautious blessing to such a mission if it proves necessary to create a secure environment for the safe provision of international assistance .

The move came as Italy decided to turn away boats bringing a flood of Albanians to its ports amid mounting evidence that Albanians who have set out to reach Italy over the past few days are no longer genuine refugees from armed unrest, but illegal immigrants looking for a better life.

The bulk of the troops and police for the mission will be provided by Italy but there may also be contingents from France, Greece, Spain, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands.

I judge there is a coalition of the willing which is now ready to provide forces to protect the aid-givers , said the Dutch foreign Minister, Hans van Mierlo, who chaired yesterday s meeting. France is ready to support such a security mission to Albania , the French Foreign Minister, Hervé de Charette, declared.

The mandate for the force will only be decided after further consultation with the authorities in Tirana. But last night EU diplomats said it might be used to secure the Adriatic port of Durres and the airport of Tirana. It may also be used to help to defend EU and international aid missions and to work with the Albanian army and police to protect food and medical supplies. Italy flew in supplies to Albania yesterday.

Last night EU foreign ministers stressed that the mixed military police force was not designed to keep the peace between the Albanian fractions but to support the army and the police. This is not a peacekeeping mission, let alone a peace enforcement operation. What we are talking about is primarily a mission to secure the distribution of food and other supplies which are urgently needed by the people of Albania , one EU diplomat said.

Britain and Germany, who both have peacekeeping troops deployed in the former Yugoslavia, said last night that they would not be taking part. No one is talking any longer about military intervention in the Albanian political situation , the Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind said. I accept that there may be the need for a force to protect aid organisations, although the International Red Cross has said it does not want military protection.

Other EU Foreign Ministers spoke of the force being planned as an example of the coalition of the willing foreseen for other European security missions in the future.

The European Commission which will co-ordinate aid distribution, has already positioned supplies of food and medicine in Italy and Bosnia. Once we have secure routes for delivering the aid, we could get it into the country within 24 or 48 hours, one Commission official said last night.

EU foreign ministers said that the Union would also help to re-establish a viable police force. When the EU foreign ministers reassemble in Rome today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the European Community, they will be joined by the Albanian prime minister, Bashkim Fino.