Yugoslavian officials are trying to smooth the return home of athletes from the breakaway republic of Slovenia.
"We are worried, but we are here as representatives of our country," Radovan Tomic, an official of the Yugoslav delegation, said before the athletes pulled out of the Mediterranean Games on Sunday.Tomic said some athletes from Slovenia want to return home, but "out of anxiety, not anger. We understand them and will help them return in every way possible."
About 30 athletes from Slovenia pulled out of the Games on Sunday under orders from officials in that breakaway republic.
"They are not leaving Greece, but they have decided not to further participate in the games," said a Yugoslav official who requested anonymity.
An official announcement from the Yugoslav delegation confirmed the Slovenian athletes had pulled out. There was no immediate word on the exact number of athletes who pulled out or their identities.
Federal forces have attacked and killed Slovenians defending their decision to form an independent state.
Prior to the withdrawals, Tomic said the country's Olympic gold medal-winning water polo team was favored in these games and the Olympic medalist marksmen were also expected to fare well.
Yugoslavs and Algerians are concerned about their families and friends who could become embroiled in the political strife and bloody clashes erupting in their countries. Other national teams have been hampered by international sports regulations covering defectors and refugees. Concern for their relatives back home was also expressed by the Algerians.