CLASHES RAGE IN SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, May 17 (Hina) - The fighting which started this morning in Sarajevo between Bosnian army and Serb troops spread on the area of Sarajevo airport this afternoon. UN French soldiers protecting the airport were put on red alert at 17:45 because of the fighting which erupted between the suburbs of Butmir and Ilidza, UNPROFOR spokeswoman Miriam Sohacko said. One French UN soldier was lightly wounded in cannon and mortar fire exchange between the two suburbs. Another UN soldier was wounded near the Jewish cemetery in a Serb attack on the Bosnian army defence positions. The Russian soldier, severely wounded by shrapnel at about 2 pm while on his observation post, was quickly transported to the UNPROFOR hospital, but is in critical condition. Serb troops interchanged strong infantry and cannon attacks in the area of the Jewish cemetery and Debelo Brdo. UN military observers confirmed that all kinds of weapons were used in today's fighting, including tanks and howitzers. They also counted hundreds of detonations. Serbs raided a UN-controlled heavy-arms depot in Poljine, north of Sarajevo, and fired ten shells from the mortars they found there. UNPROFOR did not have any information on casualties but confirmed reports of the local media saying that at least three wounded persons were transported to city hospitals. (hina) jn rm mms 171923 MET may 95