CROATIA: GOVERNMENT TROOPS FIGHT TO DEFEND DUBROVNIK

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(14 Aug 1995) Serbo-Croat/Nat
The historical Croatian town of Dubrovnik has been surrounded by fighting in its outskirts as Croatian government troops fight to push back a Bosnian Serb rebel offensive.
In the meantime, Zagreb residents Monday crowded the streets to welcome triumphant Croatian troops returning from Krajina.
But there was little more for Croatians to celebrate as hundreds of refugees crossed into the country from the Bosnian Serb stronghold of Banja Luka, from where they had been expelled.
As human rivers of misery flowed across Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia, artillery duels echoed around the Adriatic sea port of Dubrovnik.
SOUNDBITE:
"On Saturday, UN military observers recorded approximately 120 incoming and outgoing explosions in the Dubrovnik area."
SUPER CAPTION: Major Toby Bridge, UN spokesperson
Croatian troops there tried to push across the nearby border with Bosnia to silence rebel Serb guns bombarding the ancient walled port.
SOUNDBITE:
"The ECMM received reports of shelling of the Trebinje area, inside Bosnia- Hercegovina, causing the civilians there to flee into Montenegro."
SUPER CAPTION: Major Toby Bridge, UN spokesperson
The mayor of Dubrovnik, Nikola Obuljen, told APTV the city had taken measures to protect residents from the fighting.
SOUNDBITE:
"We have taken all necessary measures to protect our people, especially the children and old people. We have opened our shelters and we are advising all people to be in their houses and shelters and I hope that this situation will be solved soon and that Dubrovnik will finally be safe and quiet."
SUPER CAPTION: Nikola Obuljen, Mayor of Dubrovnik
In the meantime, hundreds of Zagreb residents turned out to welcome home the victorious frontline troops from the 101st brigade.
They lined the streets and cheered the soldiers.
Local radio stations had urged people to take to the streets to give the boys a fitting return home.
VOXPOPS:
"I had to leave my home in Banja Luka because my son was in the Croatian army. I am so excited that he is alive and is coming home."
"Thank God that everything is over and he is home.
The 101st brigade was involved in the offensive around Petrinja over the last two weeks.
But from the Bosnian Serb stronghold of Banja Luka, some 600 Croats - driven from their homes in an apparently organised effort to rid the town of non-Serbs - crossed into nearby Croatia.
Adding to the misery, it became clear that Serb forces were not allowing men under the age of 45 to make the crossing.
But even those who got through had little to rejoice about.
VOXPOPS:
"We were forced out by the Serbs, they came into my house and kicked me out. For sixty years I've worked, and this is all I've got left."
"They threw us all out, not just me, all of them."
The UN say they also expect a mass expulsion of the remaining Muslim population.
SOUNDBITE:
"And then Banja Luka will achieve the barbaric goal of ethnic purity."
SUPER CAPTION: UN spokesperson
The Croatian government says at least one-thousand Croats have been forced out of Banja Luka.
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