Brcko, 29 August 1997 (RFE/RL) - Troops of the NATO-led Stabilization Force, backed by U.S. helicopters, patrolled the Bosnian town of Brcko today. A UN spokeswoman said the town is calm following a confrontation yesterday between UN police and nationalists opposed to Bosnian Serb President Biljana Plavsic.
UN police were pulled out of Brcko last night but U.S. SFOR troops are manning checkpoints this afternoon. In Washington, White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said that the United States wouldn't "tolerate either side inciting" violence against SFOR troops.
International officials condemned the clashes, blaming nationalist leaders. Momcilo Krajisnik, Serb member of Bosnia's collective presidency, visited Brcko yesterday and praised the demonstrators. Nationalist-controlled broadcasts condemned Plavsic supporters as traitors, and referred to the NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) as an occupation force.
UN police were pulled out of Brcko last night but U.S. SFOR troops are manning checkpoints this afternoon. In Washington, White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said that the United States wouldn't "tolerate either side inciting" violence against SFOR troops.
International officials condemned the clashes, blaming nationalist leaders. Momcilo Krajisnik, Serb member of Bosnia's collective presidency, visited Brcko yesterday and praised the demonstrators. Nationalist-controlled broadcasts condemned Plavsic supporters as traitors, and referred to the NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) as an occupation force.