FIGHTING STEPS UP IN WESTERN BOSNIA, UNPROFOR SAYS

SARAJEVO, Feb 12 (Hina) - Fighting in western Bosnia has stepped up in the past 24 hours, the UN in Sarajevo said today. Clashes between the Bosnian army 5th Corps and Bosnian Serb irregulars, aided by troops loyal to renegade Moslem tycoon Fikret Abdic, were recorded around Bihac, Velika Kladusa and Bosanska Krupa, UN observers reported. About 540 detonations were recorded on the western Bihac battlefield, which comprises Zegar and Vedro Polje villages and Mt Baljevac. According to Bosnian army sources, the Serbs yesterday attempted several infantry advances in this area, but UNPROFOR could not confirm these reports. But UN military observers, who enjoy limited freedom of movement in the area, confirmed that the Bosnian army managed to regain some of the positions previously lost to Bosnian Serbs. Five hundred cannon and mortar shells were exchanged in the Velika Kladusa area, UN observers said. According to Sarajevo radio, Abdic's troops backed by rebel Knin Serbs launched a fierce infantry attack on the area. Heavy fighting was also recorded around Bosanska Krupa, where 400 shells were exchanged in what Sarajevo radio described as a fierce Bosnian Serb infantry onslaught. The fighting subsided somewhat this morning, but the situation was still volatile, the UN said. Bosnian army Chief-of-Staff, Gen. Rasim Delic, yesterday told Bosnian TV that the Serbs had sent 3,500 men on a fresh offensive on 5th Corps positions. In consequence, he refused to attend the next meeting of a joint commission on the implementation of the Agreement of Cessation of Hostilities until the attacks stopped. UN Commander in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Gen. Rupert Smith, is to meet Delic this afternoon in Visoko near Sarajevo. (hina) as 121321 MET feb 95