SERBIAN FORCES LAUNCH NEW OFFENSIVE ON DECANI

( Editorial: --> 3824 ) PRISTINA, Aug 15 (Hina) - Serbian forces began a new offensive on several Kosovo Albanian villages in the Decani municipality on Saturday morning. During the most recent attack, 22 Albanians were killed, 18 were wounded and 21 persons missing in villages of the Srbica municipality, Pristina's Albanian daily "Bujku" reported Saturday. The daily said at least 30 Albanians were being held hostage in the Deviqa monastery, near Srbica, by Serbian authorities. The Kosovo Human Rights and Freedoms Committee said almost 800 persons in Kosovo have been registered as missing or kidnapped, including 20 Serbs, since January 22. The missing persons are of all age groups, from new-borns to the elderly, and sometimes whole Albanian families. Some are presumed to be in Serbian prisons and some imprisoned in their own homes. (hina) lml 151108 MET aug 98