Though the province was less than 20 percent ethnic Abkhazian, secessionist forces succeeded last month in driving out the Georgian military.

Kempeitai Auxiliary units consisting of regional ethnic forces in occupied areas.

But bad weather prevented the general from traveling on to meet leaders of ethnic Serbian forces in Croatia.

In Bosnia, ethnic Serbian forces have seized about 70 percent of the territory and have established a Serbian republic.

As one young leader of the ethnic forces told us during a visit to the United States, "Once you've tasted freedom, you can never step back."

But underlying many of the speeches was a recognition that Lithuania exemplified the nationalist and ethnic forces that are dividing the country, sometimes producing violence.

The two ethnic armed forces share the blame for this latest tragedy, though not in equal measure.

And he has issued an appeal for Hispanic voters to rally behind his Mayoral campaign in a display of ethnic force.

But they have raised expectations where once there were few, unleashing economic and ethnic and political forces that have helped to destroy stability.

But if the ethnic forces are too powerful, they may rip apart these larger units.