BOSNIAN SERB FORCES RESUME SHELLING SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, May 24 (Hina) - The fighting which erupted around Sarajevo this morning was triggered by a Serb attack on Bosnian army positions, the UN said. The fighting started at 8.45 am when Bosnian army positions on Mt Trebevic came under attack, UN spokesman Alexander Ivanko said. Serbs targeted the city with tank, mortar and artillery fire. Several shells exploded in the very heart of the city. Clouds of smoke could be seen over the city, and the local alert centre said that Serbs fired projectiles filled with poison gas on residential areas. Hospital sources said that four people had been wounded by noon. Serbs also launched cannon attacks on Bosnian army positions on the Zuc Hill in the western part of the city. UNPROFOR officials talked with Serb commander General Ratko Mladic immediately after attacks began and demanded that his forces restrain from attacks, but Serbs resumed cannon fire. Bosnian army General Mustafa Hajrulahovic told UNPROFOR officials that the Bosnian side was forced to defend itself. Asked what action UN forces would take, since it was clear that Serbs violated the Sarajevo safe zone and attacked civilian targets, Ivanko said UNPROFOR was unable to do anything under present circumstances. He tried to explain the passive behaviour of 'blue helmets' by the fact that "both sides use heavy weapons". The UN would not request NATO planes to fly over the area since frequent flights over the city without military action only endangered the credibility of U.N. mission, according to the spokesman. Air strikes were not considered, but that did not mean they were ruled out if the situation deteriorated, UN spokesman Gary Coward said unconvincingly. NATO planes conducted occasional flights over the city as part of the routine procedure, according to Coward. Such explanations proves the total collapse of the U.N. mission, at least when the Sarajevo safe zone is concerned. (hina) jn rm 241452 MET may 95