Disturbing the Dead

SARAJEVO: Smoke filled the Serb-held suburbs of Sarajevo as hundreds of Serbs torched their homes and continued to depart the city before the Muslim government takes over. Some have gone so far as to dig up graves of relatives and remove the coffins to prevent feared desecrations. Serb leaders Thursday pleaded with U.S. envoy Robert Gallucci to postpone the March 19 changeover, fearing rough treatment by the new government. But Gallucci urged them to stay put: "Those parties . . . were agreeing when they signed the accord to accept and embrace a multiethnic society." Serb leaders warn that unless the transfer is delayed until at least September 15, there could be more violent incidents like Tuesday's deadly grenade attack on a Sarajevo street.