BELGRADE MEDIA REPORT VICTIMS IN FRIDAY NATO ATTACK

BELGRADE, April 30 (Hina) - In the strongest attack on Yugoslav targets since the beginning of their operation in Yugoslavia on March 24, NATO planes early on Friday morning hit the Yugoslav Army (VJ) Main Staff building and the federal police building in Belgrade. Several NATO missiles also hit Vracar, a densely populated area in downtown Belgrade. Serbian media reported victims and wounded, but their exact number is not known. The VJ building was targeted two times - the first time around 2.30 and the second time about 15 minutes later. Radio Novosti reported that three people, including a policeman, were killed in the attack. The TV station Studio B broadcast pictures of the Nemanjina Street- Knez Milos Street intersection, where the Main Staff building is located, and the body of a man who lost his leg in the attack. Parts of the stone facade of the building were scattered all the way to the Saint Sava hospital, located about 100 meters from the VJ building. The strong detonations have damaged the Government building and the building of the federal Foreign Ministry, and shattered windows on residential buildings in nearby streets. Thick smoke was billowing from the federal police building, which had already been hit on April 3. NATO projectiles, discharged on Vracar, a densely populated area in downtown Belgrade, destroyed two houses in the Maruliceva Street. Two people were injured in the attack. The radio and television tower on Mt Avala, the transmitter of the radio and TV station Studio B in the Borca suburb and several other transmitters throughout Serbia were also hit in last night's attacks. Television Serbia is broadcasting its programme through remaining local stations. Belgrade media today reported that the factory "Krusik" in Valjevo was hit for the sixth time early this morning. The local hospital was damaged in the attack, but there were no casualties among the patients. Last night and in the morning, NATO targeted the oil refinery in Novi Sad and a Beopetrol warehouse near Pristina. A bridge on the road Nis-Prokuplje-Pristina, near the village of Podine, was also damaged in an attack. A nearby railway bridge was completely destroyed and is no longer in use. NATO planes also attacked the wider area of Vrsac, Divcibare (near Valjevo) and Pozarevac. At 8 a.m., air raid alert was sounded in Cacak, Leskovac, and Kragujevac. (hina) rml