Shelling precedes talks

SARAJEVO - Mortars pounded Sarajevo in a fourth day of heavy fighting between Muslims and Serbs yesterday, with each side accusing the other of trying to seize the initiative ahead of this week's peace talks in London.

As shell explosions rocked the near-deserted streets, a Bosnian crisis centre reported 22 new deaths since midday on Saturday. The United Nations closed the airport - delivery point for relief supplies - for much of the day because of mortar and artillery crossfire.

A dozen bombs exploded close to the presidential building, where Bosnian leader Alija Izetbegovic accused Serbs of launching an all-out attack. 'The Chetnik (Serb) military forces . . . started a general offensive against Bosnia-Herzegovina around Sarajevo . . . This is most probably because we are headed into the London conference,' Mr Izetbegovic said. 'We can say that this offensive has failed.'

The Bosnian Serbs' news agency SRNA made an identical accusation against the Muslims and Croats defending the city.

Mr Izetbegovic denied an Independent report published on Saturday which quoted classified UN documents as saying Muslims trying to gain world sympathy had carried out attacks on their own people which were blamed on Serbs. 'It's absolute nonsense to say that we are shooting on ourselves,' Mr Izetbegovic said. Bosnia's ambassador to the UN, Muhamed Sacirbey, yesterday also issued a denial.

Meanwhile, the new commander of international peace- keeping forces in Sarajevo appealed to rival Serbian and Muslim forces to honour the UN flag. 'Ours is a humanitarian mission and we are suffering,' said Brigadier-General Hosen Ali Abd el- Razik, of Egypt, 48, who heads UNPROFOR (the UN Protection Force) in the city.

Two British Royal Engineers were wounded in the hills above the Serbian district of Ilidza and two French soldiers were treated for minor injuries caused by mortar fire on the UN headquarters.

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Steer clear of the Balkans, page 19