CROATIAN SAILORS' MUTINY ON RUSSIAN SHIP ENDS

ANKARA, Jan 11 (Hina) - A mutiny of 14 Croatian sailors on a private Russian ship "Cerni" in the Black Sea was put down at about 01.00 a.m. Saturday. It is still unknown why the Croatian crewmen began the mutiny, but it has been supposed, with reason, that mutineers took such a step because of unpaid wages. However, by coincidence Turkish coast guards were involved in putting down the mutiny when the Russian ship was trying to pass Bosphorus without permission. A special permission is necessary for passage of large vessels, and also there are pilots who lead such ships toward the open sea. As the Cerni crew refused this, nearby coast guards intercepted the ship at the entrance to Bosphorus. According to Turkish radio stations' reports, the Russian ship with mainly Croats in the crew, was sailing from the Bulgarian port of Varna toward the Spanish city of Seville. All sailors are reported to have been set free and that they are likely to set out to their homeland on Sunday. No serious incident or offence happened during the mutiny. However, ambulances and firemen were stationed in the vicinity of the site of the mutiny. (hina) mš 111743 MET jan 97