River spat opens old Balkans wounds

Croatia has demanded a public apology from Yugoslavia after its soldiers fired on a group of Croat officials on a boat on the River Danube.

Ivica Racan: Not satisfied with personal apology

The group was visiting an island in the river - which divides the two former enemies - when it came under fire.

"Twice we came under a barrage of fire, and we were forced to dock on the Yugoslav side," said Nikola Safer, regional leader of Vukovar.

No-one was hurt and the Croats were released after being interrogated.

Croatian officials said they had been on their way to Sarengradska Ada island, which belongs to Yugoslavia but is claimed by Croatia, on a trip prearranged with Serbian officials.

Army 'unaware'

Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic phoned his Croatian counterpart, Ivica Racan, to make a personal apology for the incident.

Luckily there were no significant consequences regarding people or material damage, as well as, I hope, our relations with Croatia

Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic

"This was not enough," said Mr Racan. "I want to hear a public apology".

Mr Racan held an emergency meeting with the Yugoslav foreign minister, who said that the army had not been informed of the Croats' visit to the island.

"Luckily there were no significant consequences regarding people or material damage, as well as, I hope, our relations with Croatia," the minister, Goran Svilanovic, said.

Correspondents say the incident is an indication of how tense relations between the two countries remain, despite a recent diplomatic thaw.

Croatia declared independence from the rest of Yugoslavia in 1991, leading to a bitter conflict with Serbs within Croatia who were opposed to the secession.

Croatia also backed forces opposed to Serbia in the Bosnian war.

Yugoslavia has controlled Sarengradska Ada since war broke out, but people from Sarengrad, in eastern Croatia, say that it belongs to Croatia.