Yugoslav navy blockades ports
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from September 1991.
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The navy said it enforced the blockade from 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) as fighting raged on in Croatia. A battle between Croatian forces and the Yugoslav army was still under way after 22 hours in the northeastern town of Osijek.
The regional naval command said in a statement carried by Tanjug news agency that all ships were banned from entering or leaving Split, Pula, Rijeka, Zadar, Sibenik, Ploce and Dubrovnik cutting off all the main Croatian ports.
"All ships and floating craft are banned from either putting into or leaving the listed ports. Any disrespect for this decision will be treated. according to the rules of the Yugoslav navy's combat use of forces," Tanjug said.
"The naval regional command points out that it has decided to take such a step after several days of full blockade applied to barracks, military schools and academies, hospitals and other military facilities as well as mistreatment of the military."
Croatia has cut off water, food and power to federal military installations on its territory since Saturday and says it has forced the surrender of hundreds of soldiers.
The armed forces have been deployed in Croatia to act as a buffer between Croats and Serbs in the republic who are rebelling against its independence moves. But Croatia accuses the Serbian-led army of backing the Serbs.
Tanjug said fighting continued overnight, especially in Osijek.
