SERBS SEND IN THE TOUGH GUYS

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Croatian forces are withdrawing from around the Bosnian Serb stronghold of Banja Luka after meeting stiff resistance. Wednesday, Serb President Slobodan Milosevic apparently sent 1,000 paramilitary troops under Zeljko Raznatovic, or "Arkan," to reinforce the city. The United States considers Arkan a possible war criminal, and says he's responsible for some of the worst atrocities in the Balkan war. "Arkan started out as a big-time bank robber in Europe years ago," reports TIME's Edward Barnes. "He would literally just walk in and point a gun at someone. Later he did political killings for the old Yugoslav communist government. He operates out of an ice cream shop in Belgrade." Although Arkan is not publicly associated with the Serb president, Barnes says, "He's Milosevic's man. It's hard to believe he would have gone into Bosnia without Milosevic's consent."/P> LOCK THE PRESSES: