BELGRADE (Reuters) - Remaining American, German and French diplomats evacuated the Yugoslav capital early on Wednesday in anticipation of NATO air strikes, leaving a population bracing for bombs. State television broadcast instructions from the defence ministry telling people to close up their apartments during air raid alerts and calmly and quietly proceed to bomb shelters, where smoking and alcohol would be prohibited. State-run Belgrade radio played solemn choral music, which some local residents

said they had not heard since the longtime Yugoslav communist leader Marshal Tito died in 1980. Overnight the government closed down the country`s leading independent radio, B-92, and detained its editor-in-chief, Veron Matic, who is also head of the independent media network ANEM. ANEM coordinator Dusan Masic told Reuters Matic was still being held on Wednesday morning. His lawyer had been given no explanation by police and was not allowed to see him. Masic said none of the other independent broadcasters in ANEM had reported any problems. B-92 would broadcast on another frequency. Callers to the U.S. Embassy were told: "All the Americans have left." The German ambassador drove out of Belgrade in a Mercedes packed with belongings, declining to speak to reporters. The French embassy said French diplomats were on their way to Hungary. But the Russian and Chinese embassies were working normally and spokesmen said no staff had left. Both countries strongly opposed NATO military action over Kosovo. Serb political sources told Reuters that the mood within the government was "great". "We know we made the right decision. The Americans might be surprised how much Russia could get involved," one said. "We expect a bombing campaign like the one against Iraq. But this is not a good way to protect the Kosovo Albanians on whose behalf the Americans said they would be bombing." On the sunny streets of Belgrade, people went about their business. Some did not believe the

NATO threat. "They won`t be able to do it. What for?" said one man, who said he had no reason to fear. Many stockpiled staple foods and long queues had formed at petrol stations during the night. "I`ve just brought in 20 kg (45 pounds) of supplies - flour and oil," said Milena, a pensioner, breathing heavily from the strain of carrying her load. "They are giving just two litres of oil per person but I know the saleslady and she gave me four," she said. "I was up all night waiting for them to strike. I sat and dozed off occasionally but I couldn`t go to bed. It`s the uncertainty. Psychologically, it`s hard. You don`t know when it will fall." Another pensioner was equally worried. "This situation is worrying me so much I will get an ulcer. It`s not just the bombs it`s the, `What then?`" Jasmina, a teacher, surfed her satellite television all Tuesday evening, searching for the latest news and keeping her documents and money beside her in a small bag. Telephones rang constantly from

friends at home and abroad. "So far we are fine," Jasmina told them, then phoned her mother asking her to come stay with her. "I want us to at least all be in one place," she said.