BOUTROS GHALI ON CROATIAN TROOPS IN BOSNIA

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 3 (Hina) - On request of the U.N. Security Council that UNPROFOR provide an urgent report on the accusations of the Government in Sarajevo about presence of regular Croatian Army troops on territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali sent a letter to ambassador Roble Olhaye, President of the Security Council on February 1. In his letter Secretary General says that Croatian Army has directly supported the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) in terms of manpower, equipment and weapons. As the offensives of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Government forces against the HVO have become successful, the numbers of Croatian soldiers appear to have increased, says Ghali. "It is assessed that in total there is the equivalent of three Croatian Brigades of regular Army personnel in Bosnia and Herzegovina, approximately 3,000 to 5,000 (this is an estimation, as it is impossible with UNPROFOR's assets to obtain required information for a more accurate account)...Equipment includes heavy artillery and multi barreled rocket launchers (MBRL)...UNPROFOR is unable to confirm positively any Croatian Army tank activity in Bosnia and Herzegovina". 031100 MET feb 94