SERBS LAUNCH SEVERE ATTACK ON GRABEZ, WESTERN BOSNIA

SARAJEVO, Nov 15 (Hina) - UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR) and NATO officials agree that action must be undertaken in order to protect civilians in western Bosnia and prevent attacks launched by Serbs from the occupied Croatian areas. This was said today by UNPROFOR spokesman Paul Risley in Sarajevo. According to him, UNPROFOR and NATO officials hold that the NATO close air support to UN peace keepers must be extended to Croatian territory, and the airport of Udbina (UN Protected Area, Sector South of Croatia) must be efficiently controlled. A UN Security Council resolution and NATO member countries' statements on this question need be issued, Risley said. He added that he hoped this would happen " very soon, because it is the mutual wish of UNPROFOR and NATO commanders." UNPROFOR military spokesman Tim Spicer today confirmed that Serbs had fired seven SA-2 rockets at western Bosnia three times yesterday. The first and the third attack targeted Cazin. These anti-aircraft rockets caused huge damage at civilian targets in the town. The number of casualties was still unknown, he said. The Bosnian Army Fifth Corps this morning said that 12 rockets had fallen on the area. Risley said the rockets had been launched from the Bosnian Serb positions, and described this assault as "yet another terrorist act". He added that the use of anti-aircraft missiles in attacks on towns had no military effect, but only the purpose to threaten civilians. Spicer said Serbs had hit the UN-declared safe area of Bihac at least by one artillery shell at about 16:00 hrs Monday. UN military observers reported that Serb infantry forces, supported by their artillery, at 08:30 this morning had started a severe attack on the Grabez Plateau, 10 kilometres east of Bihac. According to the same sources, the Grabez area was still under control of the Bosnian Army Fifth Corps. Serbs from the occupied Croatian areas were continuing with fire support to Bosnian Serb troops, but no information was available that Croatia's rebel Serbs were directly involved in the infantry fighting in western Bosnian, according to Spicer. (hina) mar mms 151436 MET nov 94