PRESS CONFERENCE ON SITUATION IN U.N. SECTOR SOUTH

ZADAR, March 15 (Hina) - The Croatian army and rebel Serb forces were digging new trenches and fortifying their positions in UN Sector South of Croatia, the UN said today. There were incidents near Ribnik in the Lika region, where both sides increased their presence inside and near the separation zone, and at Smilcic where Serb forces had again laid mines on a road which they had been previously removed, UN Sector South spokesman Alun Roberts told a press conference in Zadar. Responding to a journalist's question, Roberts was unable to specify locations where Croatian army troops were digging in, but said he would answer to the question at the next press conference. This prompted the journalist to reply that Roberts had apportioned the blame between the two sides and accused the Croatian army without furnishing any corroborative evidence for his allegations. Roberts did not comment on this. (hina) mm vm 151820 MET mar 95