7 Muslim Soldiers Suspected of Murder Surrender in Bosnia

Seven Muslim soldiers accused of murders in Serbian territory surrendered to U.S. forces, and talks were held Saturday to decide what to do with them.

The U.S. military said in a statement that the soldiers were turned over to Bosnian Serb police and were in custody.

The armed men were detained Friday after U.S. soldiers saw them walking toward the northeast Bosnian town of Zvornik, on the Serbian side of the demilitarized zone separating Bosnia-Herzegovina’s former warring parties.

The Americans heard shooting and an explosion from the same direction, according to the statement.

The men then surrendered to U.S. forces, who confiscated several pistols and hand grenades.

They were then handed over to the United Nations-run international police, who turned them over to Bosnian Serb police in Zvornik.

Bosnian Serb police and military officials reportedly said the soldiers were suspected of killing four Serbs in the Srebrenica area to the south on May 2.

The Bosnian Serb news agency SRNA said the seven admitted killing the four civilians and burying them in Krusev Do, 10 miles southwest of Srebrenica.

It said Serbian investigators went to the area Saturday.

U.S. military officials met with Bosnian Serb and Muslim officials, and international forces were keeping a close eye on how the soldiers were being treated, U.S. officials said.

Meanwhile, French NATO troops used tanks and armored personnel carriers to cordon off a Sarajevo apartment building Saturday after violence flared between Muslims and Serbs, witnesses said.

One Muslim man was shot in the chest during the disturbance Friday, and a Serb was rescued by the French after being slightly wounded when three hand grenades were thrown at the car he was driving, NATO and U.N. police sources said.

The incidents showed the continuing tension in the zones separating Bosnia’s former warring factions.