SERBS PLANT ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES TO TRAP FRENCH PEACEKEEPERS

SARAJEVO, April 8 (Hina) - The Sarajevo airport has been closed since 10 a.m., after an aircraft with humatarian aid cargo was hit by small-arms fire, the UN Protection Force Sarajevo H.Q. reported today. According to the same source, the aircraft was shot with three bullets while landing. The captain decided not to land, and the machine was shot again while elevating. The UN spokesman could not say who was responsible for the attack, but investigation was in progress. No more flights were expected today. The UN High Commission for Refugees spokesman Chris Janowski said the UNHCR was more concerned over the Serb blockade of the road between the airport and the city, than over the suspension of the airlift. The UNPROFOR representative Alexander Ivanko confirmed that the Serbs had surrounded French peacekeepers, deployed yesterday near a Serb checkpoint on the 'Kasindolska' road (linking downtown Sarajevo and the airport). Four armored personnel carriers and 34 troops were practically trapped, since the Serbs had planted anti-personnel mines all over the place. The French soldiers were equipped to survive a blockade lasting for several days, Ivanko said. Meanwhile, Serbs closed a road to Kiseljak, west of Sarajevo, hitherto also used by UNPROFOR. Over 1,000 armed incidents have been registered in the past 24 hours. UNPROFOR investigation showed that the projectile launched at the Hrasnica suburb in yesterday's Serb attack was actually a multiple rocket launcher shell. The shell killed a woman and wounded another four civilians, destroying three buildings. It was also confirmed that 120mm mortar shells had been fired at downtown Sarajevo two days ago. Under the cease-fire agreement, the use of 120-mm shells constitutes a violation of the truce, while 60-mm shells are not considered as a violation. But the UN spokesman hastened to add that both sides had been using heavy mortars and thus violating the exclusion zone. (Hina) mm bk 081507 MET apr 95