NATO PLANES BREAK SOUND BARRIER, SFOR HELICOPTERS FLY VERY LOW

ZAGREB, May 23 (Hina) - NATO aircraft broke the sound barrier over Vukovar-Sirmium and Osijek-Baranja Counties (eastern Croatia), whereas NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) helicopters flew low over the Makarska area (southern Croatia) yesterday and this disturbed citizens, reported the State Information Centre on Sunday. A strong detonation echoed through Vukovar County at about 03.15 pm Saturday when a NATO plane broke the sound barrier. Another powerful detonation and a loud sound of a flying aircraft were heard in the Osijek area at 03.20 pm yesterday as well. Window glasses shattered at a house in Cepin, near Osijek. Two SFOR helicopters flew at about 50 metres over Makarska in the direction from Split to Ploce on Saturday. According to citizens' reports, the helicopters overflew low all villages and towns from Brela to Gradac. Citizens protested over disturbance and fear instilled by such flights, complaining that few tourists who came in the area could not enjoy their holidays in this way. During Saturday there were two more such flights, according to the same source. As similar events has happened in the recent days, it can be concluded that this has become a usual habit of SFOR helicopters which seem to have established a kind of air corridor at this height over the Makarska area, the Information Centre added. (hina) ms