YUGOSLAV ARMY AND KOSOVO ALBANIAN TROOPS ENTER CONFLICT

( Editorial: --> 9116 ) PRISTINA, April 24 (Hina) - Yugoslav army troops on Thursday continued controlling the border between Yugoslavia and Albania, Serbian sources in Pristina said, citing military authorities. The troops prevented about 200 armed persons from crossing the border near Djakovica and Prizren from Albania into the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the same source claimed. The Serb Information Centre in Pristina said it had been confirmed that Yugoslav troops had entered into armed conflicts with Albanians in the villages of Koshara, near Djakovica, and Gorozhup, near Prizren. Serbian sources claim that the armed Albanians were locally from these border villages, and had been on a military-terrorist training operation at secret bases in northern Albania. According to as yet unconfirmed information, there had been casualties, but their numbers are as yet unknown. Several news agencies reported Thursday evening that 22 armed Albanians had been killed during the conflicts. This information was not confirmed by the Serb Information Centre in Pristina. (hina) lm 241034 MET apr 98