Three-Way Fight for Territory Rages in Beleaguered Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bosnia’s war flared on three fronts Sunday as Serbs, Croats and Muslims fought for pieces of the disintegrating republic before peace efforts intensify this week.
Bosnia’s Muslim-led government, abandoned by its former Croatian allies as Serbian rebels made more military gains, sent 700 reinforcements to central Bosnia, where Croat-Muslim clashes have raged for days, Bosnian Radio reported.
Bosnia’s war began after Serbs rebelled against majority Muslims and Croats who voted for secession from Yugoslavia in February.
When the fighting started, the Croats and Muslims formed an alliance. But as it has collapsed, Serbs and Croats increasingly have aligned their positions on partitioning Bosnia along ethnic lines.
This development isolates Bosnia’s government as international mediators prepare to present a draft constitution this week in Geneva as a basis for a peace deal.
Meanwhile, Serbian rebels blocked the main highway in Croatia in a show of defiance Sunday against Yugoslav Prime Minister Milan Panic’s bid for Balkan peace.
The move to prevent the symbolic reopening of the highway marked a setback for the U.N. peace plan in Croatia.
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