MAYORS PAY HOMAGE TO DEFENDERS OF SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, Jan 28 (Hina) - About 300 mayors of Sarajevo's sister cities went to Sarajevo yesterday to pay homage to Sarajevans who had resisted the Serb aggression and defended their city during a 1000-day siege. The mayors visited the Kosevo hospital and laid wreaths the Lion Cemetery where innocent war victims of all nationalities are buried. Some of the guests visited the Sokolje neighbourhood, situated right on the frontline. Rijeka Mayor Slavko Linic said he was shocked by the wreckage but full of admiration for the strength of the Sarajevans' resistance. Prayers for peace were held in all Catholic and Orthodox churches, mosques and synagogues. Yesterday was the 1000th day since the former Yugoslav Army and Serb irregulars attacked Sarajevo on May 2, 1992. Downtown Sarajevo was hit by several dozen heavy artillery shells and President Izetbegovic was held prisoner by JNA Gen. Kukanjac. JNA troops seized Izetbegovic at the airport as he returned from Lisbon, where he had gone at the insistence of Lord Carrington. Serb tanks tried to cut the city in two and surround the Presidency building, but were stopped at several hundred yards from the Presidency and Government seats by a few poorly armed defenders. (hina) jn as 281055 MET jan 95