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Serbian scientists have called on colleagues in NATO countries to oppose the bombing campaign in Serbia and Kosovo.

The scientists have sent e-mail messages to academic research institutions around the world. They point out that many scientists resisted the Milosevic government's attack on the independence of Serbian universities last year, and helped to force his government to admit defeat in the 1996 elections won by the opposition (see Nature 394, 715; 1998 ). The election climbdown was achieved through “three bitter winter months of peaceful demonstrations in rain and snow”.

Scientists at the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering in Belgrade say the fact that NATO is bombing the cities ruled by the opposition “has led to the common feeling that NATO is against all people in Yugoslavia”.

Scientists at the institute appear not to have been worn down completely by the international sanctions imposed against Serbia in 1992.

Despite the difficulties of importing chemicals, equipment and journals, and the absence of international collaboration, they have been able to keep up some research. Many have also had work published in international journals. The researchers have even managed to complete a new building, which was opened last October.

But now, they say, they travel to work in fear that they will find their laboratory destroyed by bombs, and travel home in fear of being hit themselves.