Bosnian Serbs assault another "safe area"

CNN
July 16, 1995
12:50 PM EDT

As they continue their campaign of terror, Bosnian Serbs are assaulting yet another U.N. designated "safe haven." This time it's the remote mountainous enclave of Zepa. As of 12:45 PM EDT today, Serb soldiers and tanks had reportedly penetrated to within a mile of the town center.

Earlier reports indicated that the Serbs were attacking Zepa from the north and southwest, but U.N. officials described the combat as skirmishes rather than a concerted effort to defeat Bosnian government forces. NATO jets flew overhead, but were not viewed a major deterrent.

Ukrainian peacekeepers and about 15,000 Muslims are huddled in Zepa. If the rebels overrun the town, the refugees will probably be forced into the safe haven of Tuzla. Camps there are already overflowing with refugees from Srebrenica, which fell to the Serbs on Tuesday. In a side note, Serb forces have released the Dutch peacekeepers they captured in Srebrenica, freeing the last nine hostages this morning.

As the rebel Serbs pounded Zepa, fighting also erupted in Sarajevo with the warring factions locked in a deadly firefight across the city's confrontation line. The fight lasted several hours -- rockets, mortars, and machine gun fire raked areas southwest of the capital.

In London, defense chiefs are discussing international efforts to protect Bosnian civilians. President Clinton has said the U.S. might offer logistical support for joint military action -- such as helicopters -- but no troops. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole told CNN that he doubted Congress would support Clinton in this move.

Meanwhile, in his weekly Angelus message, Pope John Paul condemned the Serb attacks. The Pope said they would "remain one of the saddest chapters in the history of Europe."

In 1993, U.N. Security Council members established six safe areas in Bosnia: Sarajevo, Srebrenica, Zepa, Gorazde, Tuzla, and Bihac. So far, both Sarajevo and Srebrenica have been overrun by Serbs forces.

Bosnian Serbs assault another "safe area"

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