U.N. Claims Bosnia Not Halting Abuse Of Serbs

U.N. officials accused the Muslim-led Bosnian government Wednesday of failing to halt the abuse of Serbs in Sarajevo suburbs.

About 10,000 of the 80,000 Serbs living in former rebel-held districts of the Bosnian capital decided to stay when those areas became part of the Muslim-Croat federation last March.

Now they are being terrorized and fleeing the city, U.N. spokesman Alexander Ivanko said.

Earlier this month, the Serbian Orthodox Church in the outlying suburb of Ilijas, 15 miles northwest of Sarajevo, was burned down by arsonists and 67 graves were desecrated.

Since March, Sarajevo police have detained …

U.N. officials accused the Muslim-led Bosnian government Wednesday of failing to halt the abuse of Serbs in Sarajevo suburbs.

About 10,000 of the 80,000 Serbs living in former rebel-held districts of the Bosnian capital decided to stay when those areas became part of the Muslim-Croat federation last March.

Now they are being terrorized and fleeing the city, U.N. spokesman Alexander Ivanko said.

Earlier this month, the Serbian Orthodox Church in the outlying suburb of Ilijas, 15 miles northwest of Sarajevo, was burned down by arsonists and 67 graves were desecrated.

Since March, Sarajevo police have detained six people in connection with attacks on Serbs or Serb-owned property. None was charged and all were released, Ivanko said.

“We believe the Bosnian government is doing absolutely nothing to stop this harassment of the Serbs,” he said.