CROATIAN ACTION IN WESTERN SLAVONIA NEAR ITS END, UN SAYS

ZAGREB, May 3 (Hina) - The situation in the western SLavonia region was stabilising on Wednesday, UN spokesman Christoper Gunnes told reporters in Zagreb. Croatian forces are terminating their action and there are only a few pockets near Okucani where combat activities are still continuing, Gunnes said. Under yesterday's Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in the Pakrac area, 415 armed Serbs are to surrender their heavy weapons to the UN by this evening. Small arms are to be surrendered in the next five days. UN forces had collected 30 artillery pieces by 9 a.m. today, Gunnes said. He confirmed that 192 UN peace-keepers, detained by rebel Serbs, were freed, but the fate of another 10 peace-keepers was still unknown. UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said he believed that the ten 'blue helmets' were not in danger. (hina) mm vm as 031512 MET may 95