The U.N. commander for Bosnia beseeched all warring factions Monday to respect a holiday truce as the new year approaches. But in Sarajevo, even heavy snowfall didn't dampen the fervor of Serb gunners.
"At the approach of the new year and the resumption of the (peace) negotiations, is it possible to ask you to cease combat activities, especially the bombardments, which are useless for political as well as military means, but tragic in terms of human dimensions," said the appeal from Lt. Gen. Francis Briquemont.Peace talks, which broke up Thursday over territorial disputes, are to resume on Jan. 15. A holiday cease-fire, which began Dec. 23 and was to last until the new round of negotations begins, has been ignored from the start.
Sarajevo suffered its worst shelling in two months, with a large casualty toll, over the Christmas holidays.
In central Bosnia, Muslim-led government forces and rival Croat militias fought pitched battles. The government apparently seeks territorial gains to strengthen its position in negotiations.
Shelling of Sarajevo dropped off somewhat Sunday. Nevertheless, 15 civilians were wounded, including one in a Serb-held district.
As snow began to blanket the city, shelling picked up in the early morning hours.
One person was killed and three wounded when a Bosnian state TV crew's van was hit by machine-gun fire on Sniper Alley Monday morning.
Most of Sarajevo's power supply was knocked out when a main pylon was hit Dec. 20. On Christmas Day, the Serbs switched off another line, "leaving Sarajevo without electricity," said U.N. peace-keepers spokesman Cmdr. Idesbald van Biesebroeck.