CROATIAN REBEL SERBS ATTACK BIHAC, CITY'S PRESS SAYS

ZAGREB, Feb 9 (Hina) - Croatian rebel Serbs launched a severe attack on Bihac at about 10:00 a.m. Thursday, the Bihac Press Agency said today. However, UNPROFOR headquarters in Zagreb could not confirm the Bihac press reports. According to Bihac press, Serbs, stationed on Mount Pljesevica (on the Croatian-Bosnian border), were shelling Vedro Polje, Baljevac and Debeljaca from tanks, howitzer and mortars. Bosnian Army's 5th Corps and Croatian Defence Council (HVO) positions were exposed to intense small arms fire as well. Several Serb howitzer shells fell on the very centre of Bihac, which was put on general alert. An UNPROFOR spokesman in Zagreb said UN observers had counted 58 explosions in the areas of Zegar and Vedro Polje, and reported sporadic small arms fire. He could not confirm that Croatian Serb insurgents were carrying out the onslaught on Bihac. He also denied that several shells had hit the heart of Bihac. (hina) jn sd mms 091743 MET feb 95