BOSNIA: MT IGMAN: SERBS DISCOVERED IN 'OFF LIMITS' TERRITORY

(4 Jan 1996) Eng/French/Nat

Soldiers from the French Foreign Legion have discovered Bosnian Serb troops in an area of Bosnia where they shouldn't have been.

The Bosnian Serbs were meant to have withdrawn from the area just south of Mount Igman under the rules of the Dayton peace accord.

The troops only left after talks with the Legionnaires, the same French soldiers who later had to leave Serb territory when they encountered another patrol backed up by tanks.

Setting off on a scouting mission, just south of Mount Igman, French paratroopers were out to gather information about Bosnian Serb troops and equipment.

But to their surprise, the soldiers from the intelligence unit of the Foreign Legion met them face to face instead.

The Bosnian Serbs were meant to have left this particular area on Mount Igman under the rules of the Dayton peace accord.

But it was only after the French talked with the local commander that the Bosnian Serbs agreed to leave.

One of the Legionnaires felt that only their presence kept the warring factions apart.

SOUNDBITE: (French)
"But lets say that for them (Bosnian Serbs) IFOR has to make a fortification (separation) between the Bosnians and them. But if we leave a secured place they (Bosnian Serbs) come right back."
SUPER CAPTION: Lieutenant Desmeulles, 2nd REP, French Foreign Legion

More surprises were in store for the French soldiers just south of Konjic.

After driving by a Bosnian armoured vehicle hidden in bushes, the Legionnaires encountered more soldiers on patrol in Bosnian Serb territory.

Faced with two Russian-made tanks, the French were forced to comply with a Bosnian Serb request to leave.

One paratrooper did not believe that the peace they were enforcing would last once the NATO forces finally left.

SOUNDBITE:
"I think the war will start again. Once the small groups of the different ethnics mix up everywhere it won't last very long. And if it starts again we will come back."
SUPER CAPTION: Sergeant Lawson, 2nd REP, French Foreign Legion

Mission accomplished, the special section of the Foreign Legion headed back to their Mount Igman camp.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...