Slovenia backs ban on paramilitary groups after militia patrol border

FILE PHOTO: A group of uniformed volunteers called Stajerska Varda (Stajerska Guard) holds regular exercises near the border with Croatia in Kostel, Slovenia November 9, 2019. REUTERS/Borut Zivulovic/File Photo

LJUBLJANA (Reuters) - The Slovenian government approved legislation on Tuesday that will prohibit paramilitary groups, after a group led by a nationalist politician began conducting border patrols in the woods in recent months.

"Guarding the state border is an exclusive responsibility of the police," the government said in a statement, adding paramilitary groups were obstructing the work of the police and causing alarm and fear.