CHINESE CITIZENS BANNED FROM ENTERING CROATIA DUE TO SARS

Pula, April 26 (Hina) - Istria's border police on Friday did not allow eight Chinese citizens to enter Croatia due to a suspicion that they could be infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Istrian police reported on Saturday. #L# In spite of an agreement with Slovene authorities on the deportation of the eight Chinese illegals to Croatia, Croatian police did not allow the entrance because two of the eight Chinese citizens were diagnosed with high body temperature, a police officials said. According to the same source the group of six men and two women arrived from Beijing five days ago. Considering that SARS has an incubation period of 14 days, a doctor who examined the eight Chinese recommended that they not be allowed to enter Croatia. According to the doctor, the eight Chinese were kept in Slovenia where they would remain until the end of the incubation period. The police source said border officials were not in contact with the eight Chinese, but that the entire Slovene personnel who were on duty during the event would most probably have to be isolated. After the incubation period expires and should there be no signs of SARS, the illegals will be sent back to Croatia and then to Bosnia. The eight Chinese illegals flew from Beijing to Sarajevo. (hina) it