Serb Rebellion in Croatia Spreads
Crowing Serb-provoked violence mayleadtga strong military response.
with or without Belgrade's approralA
The Army yesterday sought federal Presidency appioval to oust Croatian forces from the republic's Serb enclave. The Presidency demurred but ordered tbe troops to withdraw. Croatiaalthough it replaced some paramilitary forces wilhthe Presidency will meet today with all republic presidents. One riicmbcr says the Presidency will threaten some form of mar leaders cannot compromise,]
Ounfights between Croatian police and Serbs in eastern Croatia yesterday wounded at least six officers, and Croatian authorities arerackdown. leaders in the Serb enclave have promised to arm the populace and claim Serbian President Milosevic has pledged to supply weapons. Local radicals late yesterdayroatian paramilitary unit, catching federal Army vehicles in the crossfire.
The Milosevic-controlled Serbian legislature called the Serb rebellion in Croatia justified, offered "support,'* and called on the Army to take over eastern Croatia. The legislature repeated Serbia's demand to keep all ethnic Serbs in one stale but deflected the enclave's announced accession to the Serbian Republic]
I Bgtommon ground for any agreement to end the violence is eroding fast. Croatian officials clearly fed they must maintain order within their republic's borders and probably believe backing down now would effectively cede control over the Serb enclave. Radicals in the enclave almost certainly fear reprisals for Croatian casualties -probably will not give up without strong Serbian pressure]
Milosevic probably believes failing to support Serbs in Croatia would give the opposition the political tool it needs to oust him. He appears reluctant, however, to take the blameupturegoslavia by accepting the Croatian Serbs' accession toWBmBB-
Military leaders, who have said repeatedly they will not allow ethnic civil war. probably will press the Presidency again today for authorization to disarm the combatants. Increased violence directly affectingperiMMde the generals to act unilaterally.
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