STATEMENT BY HERZEG-BOSNIA'S DEFENCE MINISTRY

MOSTAR, Dec 23 (HABENA/Hina) - In connection with events concerning a humanitarian convoy from Nova Bila and yesterday's fierce Moslem attacks in the Lasva River valley in central Bosnia, the Defence Ministry of Herzeg-Bosnia issued a statement on Thursday saying that the Moslem forces had tried to blackmail Dr Slobodan Lang, coordinator of the humanitarian operation, into returning to the Lasva Valley and making the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) troops in the area surrender. The statement said that the Moslem forces enjoyed major artillery backing and that they used a lot of ammunition in the offensive, "which clearly shows that they have been amply supplied by Serbs and partly by UNPROFOR as well. The events are developing to the benefit of the Serbs - the more the Moslems and Croats weaken in mutual fighting, the easier it will be for the Serbs to continue with their land-grab," said the statement. 231321 MET dec 93