SERB CIVILIANS IN OKUCANI ARE "AFRAID OF NOTHING"

ZAGREB, May 3 (Hina) - Croatian TV yesterday interviewed several policemen and Croatian army territorials who took part in the liberation of Okucani and the nearby villages of Medari, Smrtic, Gornji Bogicevci and Kosovac. "We liberated Okucani and we didn't have any losses," a Croatian soldier said. "No civilian, either Croat or Serb, has been injured. They are all Croatian citizens who have the right to be in this town," another soldier said. Asked how they were treated by the Croatian army, several Serb civilians said that they "were only afraid of the shooting and nothing else." A number of refugees from Okucani also took part in the operation. "This is the first time I'm here after years of occupation. At this moment, nobody is happier than me," a refugee said. Unable to withstand the Croatian forces, armed rebel Serbs fled in panic, the TV report said. According to Croatian military sources, commander of the rebel Serb 18th corps, Col. Lazo Babic, was currently in Laktasi, near Banja Luka, where he sought shelter yesterday a little before 11 a.m. Babic phoned instructions to his troops from Laktasi, acting as if he still were at his Okucani office. He abandoned his demoralised and scattered troops even before they were defeated, the TV said. (hina) mm as vm 031208 MET may 95