UNPROFOR PRESS CONFERENCE IN SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, July 8 (Hina) - U.N. military observers registered 225 armed incidents in the Sarajevo area in the last 24 hours, said UNPROFOR Spokesman in Sarajevo Eric Chaperon on Friday. The incidents occurred in the western suburbs of Sarajevo - Nedzarici, Dobrinja, Rajlovac and Stup but no heavy weapons was used. In the Ribnica area, the Ozren battlefield, 180 explosions were registered, and U.N. military observers reported 110 detonations in the Gracanica area. The UNPROFOR confirmed that Serb forces fired a total of 13 artillery shells at the western suburbs of Tuzla. There is still no detailed information about casualties. Chaperon said that 132 explosions were registered in the Posavina corridor in the last 24 hours and 40 ceasefire violations were reported from the Gorazde area. Sarajevo radio reported today that Serbs intensified attacks on the free territory of Gorazde. They use snipers and heavy machine-guns. Referring to local military sources of the Bosnian government forces, the radio says that three persons were seriously wounded in the section of Obarak this morning as Serbs opened machine-gun fire at civilians. Chaperon confirmed that members of the military police of the Bosnian government forces 5th Corps blocked the base of French 'blue helmets' in Bihac. Commander of the Bosnian forces told French officers that they encircled the base because of peace- keeping forces' personal protection, explaining that they were expecting an incursion of a commando team. The Bosnian govt. forces forbade them to leave the base saying that otherwise they would come under fire. According to Chaperon, about 400 French soldiers are in the base in Bihac but there is no information about 10 military observers and UNHCR personnel who are also in Bihac. French 'blue helmets' reported that a group of about 20 members of the Bosnian Army 5th Corps joined forces loyal to local leader Fikret Abdic yesterday, said Chaperon. 081548 MET jul 94