9 in Hospital After Para Punch-Up

Investigators are trying to ascertain who started a massive brawl outside Moscow that left nine paratroopers hospitalized and at least three civilians wounded, officials said Tuesday."A fight between soldiers and civilians is not very common," said Defense Ministry spokesman Nikolai Derabin. "Whoever is guilty of starting the fight will be held accountable."The spark for the brawl occurred Sunday afternoon when three paratroopers from the Kantemirovskaya division argued with a group of local civilians in a park in Narofominsk near a disco, according to the local prosecutor, Yury Balaban. Six hours later, when paratroopers returned with 25 military buddies, a skirmish erupted as 125 youths gathered to counter them, officials said. It is unclear whether weapons were used, but some of the young warriors were inebriated, Balaban said. "We are now questioning both the civilian and military people involved," he said. Those guilty of starting the trouble could face a five-year prison sentence.