Human rights groups have estimated that more than 30,000 women were sexually abused in the Balkan fighting.

Meanwhile, NATO was facing decisions about how to quell the latest Balkan fighting, and the almighty American economy was giving the world jitters.

The tribunal's prosecutors have not cited any figures, but human rights groups have estimated that more than 30,000 women and young girls were sexually abused in the Balkan fighting.

And they added their voices to the chorus of those who oppose lifting the United Nations arms embargo on all parties in the Balkan fighting.

A1 The U.N. chief warned that the Balkan fighting could spread.

During the election campaign, Mr. Clinton said he might favor a tougher American policy on Bosnia, possibly including a lifting of the United Nations arms embargo on all parties to the Balkan fighting.

One of the few things that caused an uptick was the accidental bombing of the Chinese embassy, which may have suggested to some people that vital American interests were indeed becoming involved in the Balkan fighting.

But half the ex-Yugoslavs who have come to Western Europe since the start of the Balkan fighting have not applied for asylum.

The restrictions ban all flights over Bosnia and Herzegovina by combatants in the Balkan fighting.

A Carnegie Endowment report on the Balkan fighting of 1912-13 described the battles as fought for "the complete extermination of an alien population."