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Title: U.S. War Game in Adriatic; UK Navy in Mediterranean
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U.S. War Game in Adriatic; UK Navy in Mediterranean
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/nm/20000926/wl/yugoslavia_exercise_dc_2.html
Sources: Reuters | AP
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Tuesday September 26 8:46 AM ET
U.S. War Game in Adriatic; UK Navy in Mediterranean U.S. War Game in Adriatic; UK Navy in Mediterranean
By Nikola Solic
ABOARD USS AUSTIN, Croatia (Reuters) - U.S. and Croatian troops launched a joint assault on an Adriatic island Tuesday in war games that coincided with Western warnings to embattled Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.
A Reuters photographer on the helicopter ship USS Austin said the exercise near the picturesque island of Zirje, just off the Adriatic city of Sibenik, began with a joint amphibious landing of U.S. marines in speedboats and Croatian troops in helicopters.
The landing force captured the island, supported by Croatian MiG-21 fighters, helicopters, a missile boat and two U.S. A-10 planes, known as ``tank busters.'' The assault completed the public part of the maneuver, which ends on September 29.
Croatian and U.S. officials said the exercise was originally set for June but was postponed at Croatia's request to avoid the main tourist season, and was not meant as a show of force for Croatia's Balkan neighbor.
``The exercise was indeed planned long ago and is not directly related to elections in Yugoslavia, but one cannot in all honesty say this has absolutely nothing to do with Yugoslavia,'' a Croatian official told Reuters.
``Perhaps what we are doing here might have a 0.01 percent bearing on the situation in Belgrade,'' the official said.
Colonel Bry Gider, whose marines took part in NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia last year, told Reuters his soldiers were professionals ready to go to Yugoslavia again ``if told so.''
Croatian general Damir Krsticevic said Croatian troops could also be used in any action staged by NATO, ``if we get approval from the president, parliament and all relevant institutions.''
The West is concerned that Milosevic, charged with war crimes by a United Nations tribunal, might rig the results of Sunday's elections or use force to try to remain in power.
Britain Warns Milosevic
Tuesday, Britain's Foreign Secretary Robin Cook warned Milosevic against using force to try to stay in power, saying Western powers had a ``very substantial capacity in the region.''
Britain has 15 warships in the Mediterranean operating in two distinct flotillas, manned by 5,000 sailors, Royal Marines and aircrew, according to the British defense ministry.
They include the aircraft carrier Invincible, which carries Harrier jump-jet fighters, the destroyer HMS Liverpool, helicopter assault ship HMS Ocean, the amphibious assault ship HMS Fearless and 10 more ships including minesweepers, a tanker, a store ship and Northumberland, a type-23 frigate.
Romania and Bulgaria, which border Yugoslavia to the northeast and east, are planning a joint exercise at the Romanian Danube port of Turnu Magurele on September 28. The drill will include the construction of a pontoon bridge across the Danube and the evacuation of the local population.
The Adriatic maneuvers in Croatian waters include 400 U.S. soldiers and 200 Marines. Croatia is a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace program and is seeking full membership of the alliance.
NATO mounted a massive air offensive last year to halt the operations of Milosevic's troops against ethnic Albanians in Serbia's southern Kosovo province.
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U.S. War Game in Adriatic, U.K. Navy in Mediterranean (September 26)
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