(16 Sep 1995) Serbo-Croat/Nat
The regular forces of the Bosnian government continue their offensive into rebel-Serb held territory.
Despite requests by the U-N to hold off fighting while the Serbs withdraw from Sarajevo, the Bosnian soldiers and their Croat allies - including regular troops of the Croatian army - continue to capture towns.
The recent territorial gains won by Bosnian and Croatian troops are in part thanks to the recent NATO bombing raids.
The airstrikes took out many heavy weapons depots belonging to the rebel Serbs and gave the Bosnian soldiers the confidence to launch a new offensive.
APTV went to Bosanski Petrovac, about 70 kilometers (43 m) west of the largest Bosnian Serb city Banja Luka the day after Bosnian regulars took over the town.
For the past three years, the Bosnian Serbs have fought relentlessly to win control over 70 percent of the country. But now, the Bosnians are attempting to win back as much land as possible.
Some believe the Bosnian government fears the Serbs will demand more than the 49 percent share allocated under the current peace plan when Bosnia is carved up amongst the groups.
Officials visiting from the Bihac pocket in northwest Bosnia congratulated the Bosnian troops for winning back the village.
SOUNDBITE Serbo-Croat:
"We are very happy because we can walk in Bosanski Petrovac. Great thanks to our army. So help them God to liberate this country with as few fatalities as possible."
SUPER CAPTION: Mirsad Alagic, governor of Bihac pocket area
The town is an important victory for the Bosnian army, since it connects the once besieged Bosnian-held Bihac region with thousands of Bosnian troops in central Bosnia.
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