BOSNIA:MOSTAR:MUSLIMS BLOCKADE PREVENTS CROATS FROM GOING HOME

(29 Mar 1996) Serbo-Croat/Nat More than 50 Muslims from the eastern part of Mostar blocked a major route through the city Friday, stopping Croats returning to their homes. The blockade is an angry response to Croats denying them access along the road. The action is another clear sign the Bosnian Federation is facing serious problems from Muslim and Croat hard-liners unable to share their power. This road runs through the centre of the city of Mostar in southern Bosnia, connecting the eastern Muslim section of the city with the Croat-held southern suburbs Jasenice and Rodoc. From midday Friday all Croats trying to return home to the suburbs were being stopped. These men standing in the middle of the street form part of a blockade by angry Muslims, protesting against Croats who have also been stopping Muslims using the route. It's another sure sign the Bosnian Federation is facing difficulties - that the apparent unification of Mostar is flawed. VOXPOP: "We were letting I-FOR and everybody pass through the barricade until 1200 but now nobody can pass....These people here will stop passing until we are allowed to visit our houses." SUPER CAPTION: Muslim protestor The protestors say the Croats must agree to compromise. VOXPOP: "They will use this route only if they want to drive over my dead body. If they let us go to visit our houses then they can use this route." SUPER CAPTION: Muslim protestor After the 1993 fighting over Mostar, the Croats and Muslims divided the city into two separate areas. Since then the Bosnian Federation has been facing problems with Muslim and Croat hard-liners unable to agree on how to share their power. In Sarajevo the European Union's representative in Bosnia Carl Bildt called a meeting Friday to try and mediate the problems between top Bosnian government and Bosnian Croat officials. As the meeting was taking place Serbs and Muslims exchanged gunfire just outside the city, in a blatant violation of the Dayton peace accord. 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...