CONVOY STILL IN NOVA BILA, CENTRAL BOSNIA

NOVA BILA, Dec 21 (Hina) - Herman Vukusic, commander of the convoy in Nova Bila near Vitez (central Bosnia), said the convoy would not leave today as the Bosnian army still had not granted permission. Coordinator of the humanitarian action for Nova Bila Dr Slobodan Lang announced the resumption of talks at the highest level in a bid to secure for the convoy safe return to Zagreb. Dr Lang relayed to the convoy personnel greetings from Croatian President Tudjman. Mr Vujusic said that on the way to Nova Bila 40 members of the personnel had been robbed during attacks on the convoy. He said there had been 80 incidents in Gornji Vakuf, 13 in Bistrica, 4 in Pavlovica and 8 in Opara. He said that Bosnian army escort at Pavlovica had been professional, while the incidents at Gornji Vakuf, Bistrica and Opara had been unjustifiable. UNPROFOR personnel only supervised the convoy's passage and did not provide escort, which could be seen at the entrance to Nova Bila when the convoy came under fire from Moslem positions at Puticevo, said Vukusic. Dr Lang said it was intolerable that Moslem forces had denied permission to medical personnel and ambulances to enter Nova Bila. Part of the convoy intended for the Zenica hospital and the Jewish community in Zenica would not leave as the Bosnian army could not guarantee safety of the convoy drivers and personnel, said Dr Lang. 211754 MET dec 93