APPEAL FOR SALVATION OF 300,000 PEOPLE FROM BIHAC POCKET

ZAGREB, Feb 16 (Hina) - The association of citizens from Bihac County who found refuge in Zagreb issued an appeal on Wednesday in a bid to focus the world public on the plight of 300 thousand helpless civilians in the Serb-besieged Bihac area, west Bosnia. It said a Serb offensive against the predominantly Moslem enclave had been in progress for ten days now, threatening the local population. "While the eyes of the world are turned to Sarajevo and the recent massacre, Serb forces are building up troops and heavy artillery from around Sarajevo into the Bihac area," said the appeal, calling on the democratic world public to "raise their voices for the salvation of 300,000 innocent people." 161636 MET feb 94