SFOR troops on patrol

Britain Warns Against US Withdrawal from Bosnia

The Defence Secretary, George Robertson, said no country would be willing to remain in Bosnia in the event of a US withdrawal.

"Let me be blunt about the future of any follow-on force in Bosnia - if it were to be agreed," Mr Robertson said. "It will have to be NATO-led, with NATO-led credibility and with all major players sharing the risks on the ground. The message is simple: 'In together, work together, out together'. No more, no less".

Robertson: "In together, work together, out together"

Mr Robertson added that Bosnia raised fundamental issues about the nature of European security, engaging both American and Russian interests. He asked: "If Bosnia returns to ethnic chaos, what would that signal for the future?"

Mr Robertson's remarks came as the US announced that it was sending additional F-16 jet fighters to Bosnia to help troops serving with the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) maintain control during the municipal elections on 13-14 September.

"These aircraft will play a role overhead in Bosnia of ensuring that the environment on the ground remains such that people can get to the polling places and vote," said Navy Captain Mike Doubleday, a Defence Department spokesman.

Earlier this week, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) confirmed that the elections would take place, despite the bitter power struggle raging in Bosnian Serb territory between President Biljana Plavsic and supporters of former leader and indicted war criminal, Radovan Karadzic.