In apparent retaliation, Serb unleashed the deadliest shelling attack on Sarajevo-area civilians since February, killing two people and wounding at least seven in the suburb of Hrasnica late Saturday, the U.N. said.
The barrage of mortar rounds violates a ban on heavy weapons around Sarajevo, and could prompt NATO air strikes. But Lieutenant Colonel Tim Spicer said the UN, because of the difficulty of pinpointing mortars from the air, might use other weapons to enforce the ban if the shelling continued.
The fiercest combat raged in northwest Bosnia as the government army's Fifth Corps continued a two-pronged offensive out of the Bihac region that has gained some 250 square kilometers, the biggest government victory of the war.
One prong of the attack had reached Kulen Vakuf, 35 kilometers south of Bihac. Soldiers in the other prong renewed an assault on the Serb-held town of Bosanska Krupa, which they surrounded Saturday.
The Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan Karadzic, tried to boost Serb morale Sunday night at a rally in Bosanski Petrovac, near the new front line south of Bihac. He said a counterattack would be launched within days to recapture lost territory.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.