NORTHERN 'BLUE ROUTE' FOR ZENICA REOPENED TO TRAFFIC

SARAJEVO, Feb 10 (Hina) - The northern 'blue route' linking Sarajevo, Visoko and Zenica was today reopened to traffic, the UN in Sarajevo said. As the route is crossing areas controlled by Bosnian Serbs, only buses escorted by UN armoured carriers are allowed to use it. The opening of this road will considerably reduce travel time. Up to now, the only available route from Sarajevo to Zenica was a path crossing Mt Igman, which took at least three hours. Passenger cars and trucks are not allowed to use the Sarajevo- Visoko road. Because of traffic jams threatening to engulf the access to the airport, from today all passenger cars wishing to use the south-western 'blue route' will have to obtain a police pass a day in advance. The offer of food and other goods on the Sarajevo market has recently increased. Newspapers from Croatia are in greatest demand. So far only the weeklies "Globus" and "Feral" have regularly been regularly shipped to Sarajevo. (hina) as 101440 MET feb 95