Press Release (1999) 085 19 May 1999

Statement by NATO Spokesman, Dr Jamie Shea As many as 500 FRY Army soldiers appear to have deserted their deployment locations in Kosovo yesterday to return to their homes. Press reports indicate that police in the Serbian town of Krusevac used forceful measures in recent days to control demonstrations by women and children against further military conscription and deployment of their family members. The military units probably learned of the demonstrations and police response through broadcasts into the area by Western radio stations and deserted in order to rejoin and support their families.