HUNDREDS OF POWS EXCHANGED IN SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, Oct 6 (Hina) - Two hundred and ninety five war prisoners were exchanged early this morning at the "Brotherhood and Unity" bridge in Sarajevo. The Bosnian Government side released 129 POWs and Serbs freed 166, UNPROFOR headquarters in Sarajevo said today. Thirty-four sick and wounded arrived in Sarajevo from Gorazde shortly before 11 pm yesterday. The evacuation of the 34 was Bosnian prerequisite for the POWs exchange. A doctor working with UNHCR in the medical evacuations, said today that the transport of the ill from Gorazde had been delayed for two months. In the meantime two people in the east Bosnian enclave had died because of lack of access to medical treatment. Another four wounded people who were last night evacuated to Sarajevo, were still in critical condition because of lengthy departure delays to the Bosnian capital. It was uncertain whether the four would survive, the doctor said. An eight-year-old girl in Gorazde suffering from a brain tumor, was also in critical condition. The Bosnian Serbs refused clearance for her to be evacuated by helicopter, and she will have to be transported by road. But it could be too late for the girl to undergo necessary operations in Sarajevo. There are others seriously injured and ill in Srebrenica, another eastern Bosnian enclave, according to UNHCR sources. Their lives were in jeopardy but the Serbs persistently refused permits for their medical evacuation. (hina) mar sd mm 061344 MET oct 94