SERBS ATTACK SEVERELY 'SAFE HAVEN' OF BIHAC, UN SAYS

ZAGREB, Feb 9 (Hina) - Bosnian Serbs, supported by artillery of the rebel Serbs in the occupied Croatian areas, this morning launched severe attacks on the villages of Klokot and Vedro Polje within the UN-declared safe haven of Bihac. The onslaught had begun at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, a spokesman for UNPROFOR in Zagreb, Paul Risley, said this evening. UN military observers counted today more than 200 detonations of artillery shells, out of which two at least hit the heart of Bihac, he said, confirming today's report by Bihac Press Agency. The aim of the Serb attacks was to capture the water pump in Klokot, which provide Bihac with water supplies. The Bosnian Army's 5th Corps had liberated Klokot on January 12 this year. UNPROFOR asked Bosnian Serbs to cease attacks, and it had been requested from both sides to allow Bangladeshi UN troops to be deployed between them, according to Risley. Asked whether UNPROFOR considered a possibility of asking NATO to help because of the onslaught on the "safe haven", Risley expressed concern and added that this case was treated just as a breach of the cease-fire agreement. Only if the lives of the civilians in the Bihac town were to be in jeopardy, the request to NATO to help might be taken in consideration, he said. (hina) jn mms 092107 MET feb 95