(14 Oct 1995) Serbo-Croat/Nat

Fierce fighting in north western Bosnia is threatening to derail the US brokered peace plan to end the three and a half year old war.

The fighting has triggered fears that the Bosnian Serb held towns of Prijedor and Banja Luka could fall to Croat and Muslim troops.

The Bosnian Serbs - who've threatened to pull out of the peace talks - are calling on NATO to use air strikes to halt the joint Croat and Muslim advance.

In a clear violation of the ceasefire, Bosnian government troops are continuing their push into Serb held areas of north western Bosnia.

The mainly Muslim government forces have already taken the town of Sanski Most. Their guns are now pointing towards Prijedor.

The government troops appear bent on grabbing as much territory in the north west before bowing to the terms of the ceasefire.

Sanski Most, Prijedor and the surrounding region were the sites of the infamous Serb prison camps during the early part of the war.

Tens of thousands of Muslims were expelled from this area when it was seized by rebel Serbs in 1992.

Now it's the turn of the Serbs. Thousands of citizens are heading towards refugee camps in the Bosnian Serb stronghold of Banja Luka.

But even here their safety cannot be guaranteed. The latest reports suggest that joint Croat and Muslim forces could be turning their attention on the town.

Checkpoints have already been established and it's rumoured that some residents are packing to leave in the event of the town's capture.

The cruelty of the continuing war in north western Bosnia recognises no ethnic barriers.

This group of exhausted and terrified Bosnian Croats said they had been on foot for two days, after being expelled from their homes by retreating Bosnian Serbs.

Government troops make little effort to disguise their ceasefire violations.

Soldiers openly boast of their plans to take revenge on the Serbs for their war atrocities.

SOUNDBITE: (Serbo Croat)

"They will pay for all the things they have done. There are no negotiations with them."

SUPERCAPTION: Bosnian Government Soldiers

Such bitterness is a clear reminder of the obstacles which are lying in the path of peace.

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