Bosnia Muslim, Croat Soccer Fans Clash

The injuries occurred on Saturday in the western Croat part of the town.

Eight people, including seven policemen, were injured and cars were smashed when fans of rival soccer teams clashed in Bosnia's ethnically divided southern town of Mostar, the police said on Sunday.

The injuries occurred on Saturday in the western Croat part of the town, the night before a match between Croat club Zrinjski and Moslem club Velez, police spokesman Srecko Bosnjak said.

"One man sustained serious injuries to the head and seven policemen were injured while trying to separate the crowd who hurled rocks at each other and smashed two police vehicles," he said.

He declined to say what sparked the incident.

Twelve people were detained for questioning and an investigation was under way, Bosnjak said.

Trouble continued on Sunday when Zrinjski fans pelted a bus taking Velez fans with stones and bottles. Riot police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, Bosnjak said.

Outbreak of ethnic violence occur regularly in Mostar. The latest incidents were condemned by international and local officials.

The region remains volatile after the break-up of the former Yugoslav federation in the 1990s. Ethnic and racist incidents have also been reported in neighbouring Serbia and Croatia.