TEHRAN (AP) - Iran said yesterday it has released an unspecified number of Turkish troops it detained briefly after they strayed into Iran “by mistake,” state-run television reported. The television report said Iranian border guards arrested a number of Turkish troops and sent them back to Turkey after an investigation proved they had mistakenly crossed the border into Iran. It gave no timing for the detention or release of the troops. But unconfirmed reports said Wednesday that 25 Turkish soldiers chasing Kurdish rebels crossed into Iran and were detained by Iranian forces.

LISBON (AP) - UEFA said yesterday it would take action against Croatia after some of its fans shouted racist chants and brandished extremist banners during the country’s three games at Euro 2004. “You can rest assured that we will take measures,” said UEFA spokesman William Gaillard. The Football Against Racism in Europe group said Croat fans hung out banners with the symbol of the “white power” movement during Croatia’s opening game against France. Fans also directed racial slurs against black French player Sylvain Wiltord during the 2-2 draw.

Reform-minded Boris Tadic edged nationalist Tomislav Nikolic in opinion polls yesterday, as campaigning neared a close ahead of Serbia’s crucial runoff vote for president. The latest opinion polls predict that the telegenic, soft-spoken Tadic, 46, could garner around 54 percent to Nikolic’s 46 percent in the runoff. The elections are Serbia’s fourth attempt to fill the top job, vacant since a Milosevic ally stepped down in late 2002. (AP)

Bulgarian troops will stay in Iraq as long as they’re needed to help provide security, a senior government official pledged yesterday, as a replacement unit prepared to leave for the Mideast. The 480-member infantry unit was given a sendoff in a military ceremony yesterday. (AP)

The US Embassy yesterday began collecting digital fingerprints from Albanians wanting to visit the US. “Visa applicants’ digital fingerscans will be collected and checked against a database of known criminals and suspected terrorists,” an embassy statement said. (AP)

Bulgaria faces the risk of turning into a terrorist base or a transit corridor for militants heading to Central or Western Europe, President Georgi Parvanov said yesterday. “Bulgaria’s geographic position could tempt terrorists to use it as a base or a transit corridor to Central and Western Europe,” Parvanov told a seminar on terrorism in the Eastern European country. (AP)