Toulouse fan seriously hurt in Serbian brawl

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BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) -- A French football fan who was beaten by Partizan Belgrade fans has undergone an operation and remains in a life-threatening condition, doctors said Friday.

The 28-year-old unidentified French national was injured Thursday in a pub brawl in central Belgrade. Serbian media are quoting witnesses as saying the fight started when about 30 Partizan supporters attacked a group of Toulouse fans.

Two more French nationals were injured but were released from hospital and will soon return home, France's Foreign Ministry said. Serbian media reported that a Serb was also injured.

The French ministry urged Belgrade authorities to "quickly shed light on this assault" and punish those responsible. The ministry also called for a "determined action" against hooligan groups.

The brawl is the latest in a series of violent incidents involving Serbian football fans who often clash with the police and riot in the capital city.

President Boris Tadic condemned Friday what he termed "fan raging." He too urged the police to arrest and punish those responsible for the attack.

Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, who heads the police, said an investigation was still under way.

The head of Belgrade's Medical Center said doctors have performed an operation on the Frenchman's ruptured chest aorta. Dr. Djordje Bajec said the man also has serious brain and lung injuries and remains in a very critical condition.

"This was a very complicated operation, it was practically an open-heart surgery that lasted for several hours," Bajec said on B92 TV. "But his life is still very much in danger."

Belgrade mayor Dragan Djilas, who visited the injured man, told reporters he had marks on the chest indicating he was beaten by iron bars.

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