STRONG CLASHES CONTINUE IN KOSOVO

( Editorial: --> 0360 ) PRISTINA, July 28 (Hina) - Serbian forces on Tuesday morning continued attacking Lapusnik, a village near the Pristina-Pec road, for the fourth day in a row, Albanian sources in Pristina reported, adding strong detonations could be heard everywhere. The Kosovo Information Centre (KIC) said violent battles were fought between Serbian forces and units of the Kosovo Liberation Army (OVK in a valley near Lapusnik way into the night. There is no available information on possible casualties as yet. According to Serbian sources, late last night members of the OVK launched a counter-attack near Kijevo, a village south of the Pristina-Pec road. Western sources estimate more than 20,000 refugees are fleeing from the clashes. Serbian forces said the Pristina-Pec road was opened after three months, but no confirmation came from the Albanian side. News agencies reported that today members of the Serbian police turned away reporters who tried to drive the said road south of Pristina, which indicates the road is not safe. Today the KIC also reported that Serbian forces continued attacking three villages in Suva Reka Municipality. The situation is difficult in Klina Municipality as well, as Serbian forces have since morning been attacking the villages Djurdjevik, Pogradje, Jasancija, Kpuz, Jelovac, Glarevo, Ridjevo and Stapanica. Houses are on fire on both sides of a road from Klina to Kijevo and Pristina. Sources of the Democratic Alliance of Kosovo reported that since morning members of the OVK and Serbian military and police forces have been fighting in Djakovica Municipality, near the border with Albania. Albanian sources said Serbs were using heavy artillery. (hina) ha 281701 MET jul 98