West Searches 3 Ships in Embargo Against Belgrade

Western warships seeking to cut off vital supplies to what’s left of the old Yugoslavia intercepted and searched three merchant ships sailing into the Adriatic Sea on Monday but let them go after finding nothing suspect on board.

Less than 24 hours after the Western European defense group began its naval blockade of Serbia and Montenegro, a Syrian ship, an Ecuadorean vessel and a ship flying a Liberian flag were halted for inspection.

They were the first merchant ships to be searched under tougher rules approved last week to put an end to repeated violations of the U.N. embargo against Belgrade. The ships were all allowed to proceed, officials said.

Western navies have been patrolling the Adriatic since July, but until last week they had only the right to ask merchant ships to identify their cargoes and destinations. Warships were forbidden to approach suspect vessels.

The U.N. Security Council, frustrated by repeated violations of the embargo, last Monday agreed to tighten sanctions against Yugoslavia. These are mainly aimed at starving Serbia of oil and other strategic supplies.