BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA: U.N. (IFOR) PEACEKEEPERS IN TENSE STAND-OFF WITH BOSNIAN SERB CIVILIANS ARMY AT RUMOURS THE TROOPS WERE RTYING TO ARREST SERB COMMANDER RATKO MLADIC

Record ID: 350351

  • Title: BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA: U.N. (IFOR) PEACEKEEPERS IN TENSE STAND-OFF WITH BOSNIAN SERB CIVILIANS ARMY AT RUMOURS THE TROOPS WERE RTYING TO ARREST SERB COMMANDER RATKO MLADIC
  • Date: 6th July 1996
  • Summary: HAN PIJESAK, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA (JULY 6, 1996) (RTV (W) - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV CROWD SURROUNDING IMPLEMENTATION FORCE (IFOR) TANKS AND ARMOURED VEHICLES 0.12 2. SLV CARS WITH HORNS BLARING AND BOSNIAN SERB CIVILIANS PUSHING IFOR SOLDIERS. 0.38 3. LV CROWDS AND IFOR TROOPS 0.42 4. MV BRITISH LIAISON OFFICER BRIGADIER GENERAL MICHAEL
  • Embargoed: 21st July 1996 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEAR HAN PIJESAK, BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA
  • City:
  • Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Reuters ID: LVABNEB5UCHEYZK78EVP1YW6VJUM
  • Story Text: - INTRO: U.S. peacekeepers in Bosnia were involved in a tense stand-off with about 2,000 Bosnian Serb civilians in the garrison town of Han Pijesak. The civilians were angry at rumours the troops were trying to arrest Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic, an indicted war criminal.

    ----------------------------------------------------------- About 2,000 Bosnian Serb civilians gathered in front of the Bosnian Serb Army headquarters in Han Piejsak on Saturday (July 6) in a tense stand-off with American Implementation Force (IFOR) peacekeepers.

    The demonstrators believed the IFOR soldiers were attempting to arrest the Bosnian Serb commander, General Ratko Mladic, who has been indicted twice by the Hague criminal tribunal on human rights charges. Han Pijesak is Mladic's military headquarters.

    The demonstrators, some from surrounding villages, rocked IFOR vehicles and jeered at troops.

    A Bosnian Serb officer tried to calm the crowd, which demanded weapons.

    As the peacekeepers withdrew some protesters threw stones.

    Brigadier General Michael Weedy, a British Liaison Officer, said IFOR was only trying to ensure that the Bosnian Serb tanks seen outside the base on Friday had in fact returned to base.

    The tanks and armoured personnel carriers were outside the base in violation of the Dayton peace accord.

    Bosnian Government spokesman, Mirza Hajric, said the civilian side of the peace process had been obstructed by the Bosnian Serb president, Radovan Karadzic, but now there are problems on the military sideas well.

    The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) said the Bosnian Serbs had returned all the military vehicles to an approved storage site late on Saturday.


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