Yugoslav Factions Avoid Threat of Civil War

The communist-led Yugoslav army and the secession-minded Croatian government Saturday drew back from the edge of civil war, implementing an accord taking troops off combat readiness and demobilizing Croatian reserve police.

“We were on the verge of civil war and bloodshed with catastrophic consequences,” President Franjo Tudjman told the Croatian Parliament after the accord was reached. “The army gave guarantees that it would not take steps against the sovereignty of Croatia and its legitimate leadership.”

Tudjman announced his government fulfilled its end of the agreement, “demobilizing” some 21,000 reserve police that were deployed with regular officers.

The 5th Army District said it had also met its obligations, taking troops off “full combat readiness.”