(14 May 1996) English/Nat
US IFOR troops are helping Serbs clear mines left by their troops in Muslim territory after the signing of the Dayton Agreement.
The Muslims have returned to their homes since control was returned but their lives are endangered by the daily threat of mines.
U-S IFOR troops persuaded the Serb military that it is their responsibility to clear the area.
U-S IFOR troops arrived at the hamlet of Memici to assist in a mission that will prevent more tragedies in war-torn Bosnia.
The troops will help the Serb military clear the mines they left behind after four years of war.
For the first time since the signing of the Dayton Agreement, the Serbs crossed into this Muslim area to get rid of the deadly military hardware they had laid.
To carry out the operation the Serbs threw plastic explosives into the area to trigger secondary explosions from the mines.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
Normally they have very good records of what they put out in terms of mines, but in this case they didn't. Because of the density of the brush they're not able to safely probe or use other methods to find to locate the mines. So in this case what they're doing is centrally probing with explosives. The theory behind it is that if you throw enough explosives out into the area you'll get the mines to create secondary explosions and they'll find it that way.
SUPER CAPTION: U-S IFOR official
Memici was once a peaceful hamlet in Bosnia until the Serbs advanced and forced the Muslims out of their homes.
Since the signing of the Dayton Agreement the Muslims have returned, but their lives are still threatened by the mines- a cruel reminder of Serb presence in their land.
U-S IFOR troops escorted and supervised the Serbs during the operation.
They say they persuaded the Serb military that it was their responsibility to clear the mines.
U-S IFOR officials hope the operation will be carried out quickly.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
Hopefully everything will go o.k. and everything is clear and we can get out of here as soon as they do their job here without any problems.
SUPER CAPTION: U-S IFOR official
The troops are using a remote controlled vehicle to survey the minefields and locate the unexploded devices.
According to international estimates, the total number of mines in Bosnia runs from one-and-a-half (m) million to four (m) million. Only 30 percent of them were recorded.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
Негізгі бет BOSNIA: US IFOR TROOPS HELP SERBS CLEAR LANDMINES
Пікірлер: 48