February 22, 1996
Web posted at: 10:45 p.m. EST (0345 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Pentagon Thursday said there has been no evidence that Bosnian Serb Gen. Ratko Mladic plans to carry out a reported threat to seize NATO troops and hold them hostage.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Howell Estes, joint chiefs operations director, said the United States has been aware since last week of newspaper reports that Mladic had ordered his forces to attempt to abduct some NATO troops. "I've seen no evidence in any of the reports that there is any indication that that's going to happen," he said.
Estes said NATO troops -- already on high alert for possible attacks from "rogue elements" -- have taken additional measures to make sure no troops patrolled in small groups, which might make them vulnerable to attack. The message to the troops, Estes said, was: " 'If you're going to go out, go out in larger groups.' "
Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon said Mladic "lives by bluster and force, and he has for a long time." "We see no evidence that he had attempted to carry through on this threat," Bacon said. " He (Mladic) is an indicted war criminal. We expect threats from him. We've gotten many threats from him. We take the threats seriously, but I think these threats should be put in context."
Bacon acknowledged the threat could be based on a false report. "We don't think we have the luxury of waiting to decide whether reports are accurate or inaccurate," he said.
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