Annex VI - part 4/10
Chronology of the battle and siege of Sarajevo
- April 1992
- May 1992
- June 1992
- July 1992
- August 1992
- September 1992
- October 1992
- November 1992
- December 1992
- January 1993
- February 1993
- March 1993
- April 1993
- May 1993
- June 1993
- July 1993
- August 1993
- September 1993
- October 1993
- November 1993
- December 1993
- January 1994
- February 1994
H. November 1992
1. 1/11/92 (Sunday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Intense machine-gun and mortar
exchanges broke out around central Sarajevo around the Jewish
cemetery in the evening. Airbursts and gun flashes were observed
on Trebevic mountain to the south-east. The shelling was
described in one report as the heaviest in one month.
Source(s):
Reuters; New York Times.
- Targets Hit :
- Central Sarajevo (evening).
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- One man was killed by shrapnel in the morning as
sporadic firing into the city continued; *1384 at least 20 people
were reported killed and 100 wounded by tank and artillery fire.
*1385
Source(s): United Press International; New York Times.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Radio Sarajevo reported that one man was killed by
shrapnel in the morning as sporadic firing into the city
continued. *1386
Intense machine-gun and mortar exchanges broke out
around central Sarajevo in the evening. Reporters said that
fighting appeared to be concentrated around the Jewish cemetery
south of the city which overlooked the burned-out parliament
tower being used by snipers and machine-gunners. Air bursts and
gun flashes on Trebevic mountain were also witnessed to the south-
east. *1387 Air bursts and gun flashes on Trebevic mountain were
also witnessed to the south-east. *1388
Reuters reported the heaviest shelling of Sarajevo in a
month this evening with at least 20 dead and 100 wounded by tank
and artillery
fire. *1389
(b) Local reported events
Dr. Bakir Nakas, director of the State Hospital in the
centre of Sarajevo, estimated that 500 shells had hit the complex
since fighting broke out in Sarajevo in April. Entire floors of
the hospital were unusable. Direct hits had left wards without
walls. Gaping holes in the side of the building left it open to
the elements. There were nearly 200 patients in the hospital.
Nakas estimated that 250 amputations had been carried out in
Sarajevo since the start of the fighting. *1390
Bosnian Serb and Croatian Serb leaders met in Prijedor,
BiH and reportedly agreed to join their territories politically,
create a joint army and legal system, and take general steps
toward the «unification of the whole Serbian nation». *1391
2. 2/11/92 (Monday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The Sarajevo radio reported that
BiH troops repulsed an attempted Serbian assault on Mt. Igman.
The city itself was described as relatively calm.
Source(s):
United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Not specified
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sarajevo radio reported that BiH troops repulsed an
attempted Serbian assault on the strategic Igman mountain, 10
miles west of Sarajevo. The city itself was relatively calm.
*1392
It was also reported that gunfire hit a former military
hospital. *1393
(b) Local reported events
3. 3/11/92 (Tuesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The city was described as
relatively quiet, although there was some heavy shelling in the
Old Town and Hrasno during the evening.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- The Old Town; Hrasno.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- A Spanish journalist was wounded by sniper fire
while driving west from the city centre, to UNPROFOR
headquarters, in a press-marked car.
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Casualties :
- In the 24 hours ending at 10:00 a.m., 12 people were
killed in Sarajevo and 35 others were wounded. *1396
Source(s):
United Press International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Serbian reinforcements arrived outside Sarajevo. *1397
A Spanish journalist was wounded by sniper fire in
Sarajevo. Gabriel Barcelo was hit in the knee while driving west
from the city centre to the UNPROFOR headquarters in the
afternoon. He was travelling in a press marked car. *1398
Sarajevo was relatively quiet, although there was some
heavy shelling of the Old Town and the riverside suburb of Hrasno
during the evening. *1399
(b) International reported events
4. 4/11/92 (Wednesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- There was sporadic shelling in the
Old Town area.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- The Old Town; a cable-bearing pylon (used for
electrical power) in the north-western part of the city.
Source(s): Reuters; United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- A cable-bearing pylon in the north-western
part of the city was destroyed by Serbian artillery fire, leaving
the city without electricity.
Source(s): Reuters; United Press
International.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Not specified
- Narrative of Events :
-
A US transport aeroplane was hit by small-arms fire at
Sarajevo's airport. Fighting around the airport forced the five-
person air crew to evacuate the aeroplane and take cover for
about 30 minutes. The hit put a hole in the fuselage but there
were no injuries. *1402
A cable-bearing pylon in the north-western part of the
city was destroyed by Serbian artillery fire, leaving the city
without
electricity. *1403
There was only sporadic shelling in Sarajevo's historic
Old Town. *1404
(b) International reported events
The peace conference co-chairmen presented the United
Nations and the European Community with a report on their
official tour of Belgrade, Pristina, Skopje, Tirana, Podgorica,
and Zagreb. In general it was described as not optimistic. The co-
chairmen were especially indignant at the situation in Kosovo.
They reported that on their visit to Pristina, negotiations were
hard and lasted for several hours, but yielded little hope for
the opening even of elementary schools. *1405
5. 5/11/92 (Thursday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The city was described as
relatively quiet.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- Unidentified sections of Sarajevo.
Source(s): United
Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Not specified
- Narrative of Events :
-
Despite some sections of Sarajevo coming under anti-
aircraft fire, the BiH capital was relatively quiet. *1406
(b) Local reported events
UNPROFOR reported in a press release that there was a
lessening of bombardment in the city (except for some «bad days»)
and that it was focusing on the demilitarization of the area, the
opening of two corridors out of the city, and the restoration of
utilities. It was reported that water, gas and power had been
restored to most of the city. As of Wednesday, it was reported
that 1,338 humanitarian flights had landed at the city's airport,
delivering an average of 150 metric tons a day since the flights
began in early July. However, it was calculated that 240 tons a
day of food was necessary just to keep the population alive, and
that there were beginning signs of famine. It was further
reported that at least 90 per cent of food for the city arrived
on humanitarian flights, underlining the desperate need to access
land routes to the city. *1407
The Washington Post reported that both Serb and Croat
forces were restricting and delaying aid deliveries to Sarajevo.
*1408
(c) International reported events
6. 6/11/92 (Friday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The city was described as
relatively calm despite small-arms and anti-aircraft fire.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- The area where engineers were attempting to repair a
power cable.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Not specified
- Narrative of Events :
-
A BiH military commander said that Serb forces may have
been withdrawn from outside Sarajevo and sent to reinforce
renewed Serb assaults on towns in north central BiH. *1410
Serb troops fired on teams of engineers dispatched to
repair a power cable supplying the city. Two repair missions had
to be abandoned, and a spokesman for UNPROFOR in the city said it
would take another two days to restore power supplies. Sarajevo
had been without electricity since Wednesday, when a cable-
bearing pylon in the north-western part of the city was destroyed
by Serb artillery. The city's phone service stopped operating in
the morning because of the blackout. *1411
Despite sporadic small-arms and anti-aircraft fire
around the city, Sarajevo was reported as relatively calm. *1412
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
7. 7/11/92 (Saturday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The city was reported as calm with
sporadic shelling and small-arms fire.
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Not specified
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sarajevo was reportedly calm, with only sporadic
shelling and small-arms fire exchanged between BiH army defenders
and encircling Serbian troops. *1416
(b) Local reported events
Representatives of the three warring factions met for
talks under UN auspices at Sarajevo airport in the morning, but
failed to reach agreement on the safe passage of humanitarian
convoys. Unexpected Serbian objections thwarted a hoped for
agreement. *1417
The BiH Presidency announced a reversal of an earlier
decision and gave permission for Red Cross convoys to begin
evacuating some 6000 women, children and elderly residents from
Sarajevo to Belgrade and Split. *1418
A makeshift convoy of about 200 people determined to
escape from Sarajevo was turned back by a cordon of military
police before reaching the outskirts of the city. The convoy
consisted predominantly of Croatians whose homes in the western
suburbs of Sarajevo were destroyed. Police said they acted to
ensure the safety of convoy members who would have been in danger
trying to cross Serb lines. *1419
8. 8/11/92 (Sunday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Not specified
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Two people were injured by sniper fire in the
centre of the city.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Casualties :
- Two people were injured by sniper fire in the centre
of the city and doctors at the state hospital reported that one
person had been killed and seven wounded throughout the day.
*1420
Source(s): United Press International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Two people were injured by sniper fire in the centre of
the city and doctors at the state hospital reported that one
person had been killed and seven wounded throughout the day.
*1421
UNPROFOR reported signs of dissention between BiH
forces during the last two days. On this day, special units
installed two check points on Dzemala Bijedica street and regular
BiH army forces installed another check point on the same road
using guns that were taken from front line positions. Inter-BiH
fire-fighting had been reported at Cengic Vila. According to a
report, the tension was caused by local special forces in Azici.
Tensions subsequently decreased and guns were withdrawn. *1422
(b) Local reported events
9. 9/11/92 (Monday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- A Serb infantry attack was launched
midmorning from lines in the Sarajevo city centre and there was
sporadic shelling and anti-aircraft fire in the Old Town.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- The Old Town.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The Sarajevo state hospital reported that two people
had killed and 10 had been wounded. *1425 The BiH Public Health
Ministry reported that five people were killed and 22 were
wounded. *1426 The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that 7,468
people had been killed or were missing in Sarajevo (of this
number 2,782 of the killed had been received by health
organizations), 44,677 had been wounded (out of this number,
12,000 were reported as heavily wounded). *1427
Source(s): United
Press International; BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
A Serb infantry attack was launched midmorning from
lines in the Sarajevo city-centre and there was sporadic shelling
and anti-aircraft fire in the Old Town. *1428
(b) Local reported events
UNPROFOR escorted two successful missions to finish
repairs on Sarajevo's electric power lines. *1429
Water supplies had not yet been reconnected due to
problems with one of the main pumps located west of the city in
the Serb controlled district of Bacevo. *1430
Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic presented
following new seven-point Serbian peace plan: (1) the armed
forces of the Republic of Croatia completely withdraw from the
former Republic of BiH; (2) the Muslim leadership annuls and
withdraws the state of war declared against the Serbs; (3) all
hostilities and offensive operations cease and the present front
lines are recognized; (4) UNPROFOR observers are distributed
along the front lines with units of all three warring factions;
(5) direct negotiations among the warring factions are restored;
(6) the forces in Sarajevo are separated and divided with joint
patrols and joint control points; (7) and finally, all civilians
who are held in cities against their will are immediately and
unconditionally
released. *1431
10. 10/11/92 (Tuesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Sporadic explosions and gunfire
continued in the city centre and there were reports of continued
Serbian shelling of the Hrasnica and Butmir suburbs.
Source(s):
United Press International; Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- The city centre; Hrasnica; Butmir.
Source(s): United
Press International; Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Three people were reported killed and seven
others wounded by sniper fire in the city itself.
Source(s):
Reuters.
- Casualties :
- Thirty people were reported killed and seven others
wounded by sniper fire in the city itself. *1432 The BiH Public
Health Ministry reported that four people had been killed and 42
wounded. *1433
Source(s): Reuters; BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sporadic explosions and gunfire continued in the city
centre as the Red Cross began a three-day evacuation of some 6000
women, children, sick and elderly residents from Sarajevo. But
the largest operation of its kind was temporarily halted by Serb
gunmen at the outskirts of the city who were awaiting the release
of Serbian refugees. *1434 This delay was caused in response to a
refusal by Muslim bus drivers to enter Serbian territory because
of a string of disappearances of Muslim bus drivers who entered
that area. The convoy was finally released, but other Muslim
residents awaiting departure were sent home. *1435
There were also reports of continued Serbian shelling
of the Hrasnica and Butmir suburbs near the airport.
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
11. 11/11/92 (Wednesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Sarajevo was reported as generally
quiet with sporadic anti-aircraft and sniper fire.
Source(s):
United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Sporadic sniper fire was reported.
Source(s):
United Press International.
- Casualties :
- For the first time in many weeks BiH officials said
that they had no reports of any deaths in the 24 previous hours.
However, 14 people were reported wounded. *1438
Source(s): United
Press International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sarajevo was generally quiet, although sporadic anti-
aircraft and sniper fire was reported. *1439
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
12. 12/11/92 (Thursday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- A new truce took effect at midnight
and only small-arms fire could be heard during the night.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that five
people had been killed and 24 had been wounded. *1444
Source(s):
BiH Ministry of Public Heath.
- Narrative of Events :
-
A new truce took effect at midnight, and only small-
arms fire could be heard during the night. The heavy guns
remained silent. *1445
(b) Local reported events
13. 13/11/92 (Friday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The cease-fire reportedly broke
down later in the day with new fighting and mortar rounds
reported.
Source(s): Washington Post; New York Times.
- Targets Hit :
- The area near an unidentified city hospital.
Source(s): Washington Post; New York Times.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that one
person had been killed and 12 wounded. *1448
Source(s): BiH
Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Although the cease-fire appeared to be holding early in
the day, some news sources stated that it seemed to have broken
down later on as renewed fighting was reported in Sarajevo.
Mortar rounds were also reported to have landed near a city
hospital. *1449
(b) Local reported events
A convoy scheduled to take an additional 1,500 Serbian
refugees to Belgrade was cancelled due to a shortage of buses.
*1450
Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic in an interview
with SRNA news agency stated that Croatian forces had repeatedly
violated the cease-fire agreement in BiH, showing that to them
the agreement reached is a «dead letter». He said that Croatia
had proved to be an unreliable negotiator, which would seriously
threaten future negotiations and open prospects for a large-scale
war between the Serbs and Croats, but stressed that the Serbian
side would observe the cease-fire agreement until threatened. He
called on the international community to intervene by putting
equal pressure on Croatia and by threatening to impose sanctions
against it. *1451
(c) International reported events
14. 14/11/92 (Saturday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Shelling and small-arms fire flared
up on the outskirts of Sarajevo in the afternoon. There were also
reports of sporadic fighting within the city, but not with the
intensity of previous weeks.
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Targets Hit :
- The outskirts of the city.
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that one
person had been killed and 10 wounded. *1453
Source(s): BiH
Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
UNPROFOR reported that air flights were stopped after a
British UNHCR aircraft was locked on by an anti-aircraft radar in
the area of Fojnica. Protests had been made to the parties and
flights resumed the next day. *1454
Shelling and small-arms fire flared up on the outskirts
of Sarajevo in the afternoon, leaving at least one person dead
and 10 people wounded. There were also reports of sporadic
fighting within the city itself, but it was reported not to be of
the same intensity as that of the previous weeks. *1455
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
15. 15/11/92 (Sunday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UNPROFOR reported that small-arms
and machine-gun fire and 18 rounds of artillery/mortar shells
landed from 1:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. in different points in the
city. A total of 116 artillery/mortar rounds were observed. This
was described as average to the previous days after the cease-
fire agreement. *1458
Source(s): UNPROFOR.
- Targets Hit :
- UNPROFOR staff headquarters (evening).
Source(s):
Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- In the evening, six machine-gun shells hit
the UNPROFOR staff headquarters.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Sniping Activity :
- Heavy sniper fire was reported early in the
day.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that five
people were killed and 25 were wounded. *1459 The BiH Public
Health Ministry also reported that to date in Sarajevo, 7,509
people were reported killed or missing (of this number, 2,803 of
the killed were recorded in health organizations), 44,826 were
wounded, and 12,142 were heavily wounded. *1460
Source(s): BiH
Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
In Sarajevo, machine-gun, mortar and heavy sniper fire
was reported early on in the day, but it was described as light
in comparison to past weeks. However, by nightfall it had
increased with six machine-gun shells hitting the UNPROFOR staff
headquarters. They were believed to have been stray bullets.
*1461
(b) Local reported events
Temperatures fell overnight as snow covered the ground.
Many residents prepared for the coming winter as best they could
since gas supplies had been cut. The electricity supply had also
been intermittent due to renewed attacks to the power lines in
Vogosca. *1462
Two convoys of 1,200 evacuees left Sarajevo aboard 10
buses without incident. Seven hundred were headed for Belgrade
and the remainder were destined for Kiseljak, 20 miles away.
*1463 UNPROFOR reported that it was escorting a convoy of 400
refugees which received small-arms fire when leaving Sarajevo on
the way to Kiseljak. No casualties were reported. *1464
16. 16/11/92 (Monday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UNPROFOR reported 86
artillery/mortar shells hitting the city. Most of the cease-fire
violations were around the
airport. *1465 Although UNPROFOR claimed that the cease-fire was
holding, Sarajevo came under tank from Lukavica and Serb held
areas in the western suburbs. Hrasnica and Sokolovici were also
hit. Shelling in the city centre resumed, with a considerable
amount of small-arms fire reported.
Source(s): UNPROFOR; United
Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- Unidentified sections of the city; Hrasnica and
Sokolovici (morning); the city centre (mid-afternoon).
Source(s):
United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- Hrasnica and Sokolovici in the south-
western suburbs were hit, resulting in three deaths and an
unknown numer of injuries.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Hrasnica and Sokolovici in the south-western suburbs
were hit by shelling, resulting in three deaths and an unknown
numer of injuries. BiH health officials said that one person had
been killed and 27 wounded in Sarajevo during the preceding 24
hours. *1466
Source(s): United Press International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
BiH television reported that Serb reinforcements from
Pale and Mrkovici had begun to move into Serb held areas on the
outskirts of Sarajevo. *1467
Although UN officials claimed that the cease-fire was
holding, in the morning, Sarajevo came under tank fire from
Lukavica and Serb held areas in the western suburbs. Hrasnica
and Sokolovici in the south-western suburbs were hit, resulting
in three deaths and an unknown number of injuries. *1468
Shelling of the city centre resumed in the mid-
afternoon with a considerable amount of small-arms fire. *1469
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
The United Nations Security Council voted to impose a
naval blockade for the first time, adding enforcement provisions
to trade sanctions that were adopted against the Serbian
government. Under UN Security Council Regulation 787, the NATO
and WEU ships that had been patrolling the Adriatic and the
Danube could stop and inspect vessels. *1472
17. 17/11/92 (Tuesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The city was described
as generally calm. UNPROFOR reported that to noon, 34 shell
rounds had fallen, mainly in Stup, Butmir and Dobrinja. The
majority of fire was observed in the area of
Balino. *1473
Source(s): United Press International; UNPROFOR.
- Targets Hit :
- Stup; Butmir; Dobrinja; the Old Town.
Source(s):
UNPROFOR; United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Sporadic sniper fire was observed in the Old
Town.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Casualties :
- BiH health officials reported that 17 people were
wounded as a result of the days shelling. *1474
Source(s):
United Press International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sarajevo was generally calm, with officials reporting
sporadic outbreaks of sniper fire and several shells falling in
the Muslim dominated Old Town. *1475
(b) Local reported events
18. 18/11/92 (Wednesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UNPROFOR reported that between
11:00 a.m. and noon, Muslim forces carried out an infantry attack
against Serb positions in the direction of Zuc. Five hundred
soldiers were reportedly involved and 350 artillery impacts were
observed in the area. Sarajevo radio said that the Dobrinja
quarter was heavily shelled by Serb forces while SRNA reported
artillery attacks on Serb headquarters including Ilidza.
Source(s): UNPROFOR; Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- The Zuc area; the Dobrinja quarter; Ilidza.
Source(s): UNPROFOR; Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Not specified
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sarajevo radio said that the city's Muslim Dobrinja
quarter was heavily shelled by Serbs while SRNA reported Muslim
artillery attacks on Serb quarters including Ilidza. *1478
UNPROFOR reported that between 11:00 a.m. and noon,
Muslim forces carried out an infantry attack against Serb
positions in the direction of Zuc. Five hundred soldiers were
reportedly involved and 350 artillery impacts were observed in
the area. An infantry attack was also reportedly launched against
Serb positions in Ilidza from Otes and Butmir. Both attacks were
reportedly repelled by Serb forces and there were no changes in
the front line. *1479
(b) Local reported events
19. 19/11/92 (Thursday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UNPROFOR reported fire activity as
very light, with only four impacts reported, primarily on the
northern edge of the city with the other area of activity around
the airport. *1482
Source(s): UNPROFOR.
- Targets Hit :
- The area on the northern edge of the city; the area
near the airport.
Source(s): UNPROFOR.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- According to the Tanjug news agency, three Serb
fighters were killed and several were wounded. *1483
Source(s):
Reuters.
- Narrative of Events :
-
UNPROFOR reported that a convoy of Serb vehicles
consisting of 18 tanks and 15 trucks with approximately 250
soldiers were observed close to the runway moving from Lukavica
to the south. At 11:00 a.m., the convoy was at Vojkovici.
According to Serb sources, this was a training exercise. *1484
UNPROFOR reported fire activity as very light. Four
impacts were reported, primarily on the northern edge of the city
with the other area of activity around the airport. *1485
Fighting was reported around Sarajevo where according
to the Tanjug news agency, three Serb fighters were killed and
several were wounded. *1486
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
20. 20/11/92 (Friday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UNPROFOR observed a total of 50
rounds of shell fire in the city area. Other reports described
intense sniper fire in the city centre as Serb forces shelled
Muslim and Croat sectors at night. Targets during the reported
barrage were the Muslim districts of Dobrinja, Hrasno and Stup.
Muslim areas of the city were described as heavily shelled in the
afternoon.
Source(s): UNPROFOR; Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- Dobrinja, Hrasno and Stup (overnight); the area near
the BiH Parliament (overnight); Muslim areas of the city
(afternoon); Stupsko Brdo.
Source(s): Reuters; UNPROFOR.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Intense sniper fire was reported in central
Sarajevo overnight.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Casualties :
- Not specified
- Narrative of Events :
-
Intense sniper fire was reported in central Sarajevo as
Serb gunners shelled Muslim and Croat sectors of the city during
the night. The gunfire was particularly heavy around the BiH
Parliament. The targets in an overnight barrage were the Muslim
districts of Dobrinja and Hrasno, and Stup, which was mainly
populated by Croatians. Muslim areas of the city were reported
as heavily shelled by Serb gunners again during the afternoon.
*1491
UNPROFOR observed a total of 50 rounds of shell fire in
the city area. It also reported numerous violations occurring in
the airport area. The overall level of fighting was described as
light, with most of the fire received in the areas of Stup and
Stupsko Brdo coming from the Nedzarici area. Two tanks were
reported moved from Lukavica to Donji Kotorac and two anti-
aircraft guns were moved from the airport settlement to
Nedzarici. *1492
(b) Local reported events
21. 21/11/92 (Saturday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Shelling was reported as sporadic
and less than in previous days.
Source(s): UNPROFOR; United Press
International.
- Targets Hit :
- The area near a UN protected utility crew; Stupsko
Brdo; Stup; Nedzarici; Dobrinja.
Source(s): United Press
International; UNPROFOR.
- Description of Damage :
- A UN protected utility crew was forced to
abandon a mission to repair an electricity installation when a
mortar round exploded 70 to 100 yards from the group.
Source(s):
United Press International; UNPROFOR.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- BiH health officials said that three people were
killed and 31 wounded in Sarajevo during the 24 hour period that
ended at 10:00 a.m. Saturday. *1496
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
A UN protected utility crew was forced to abandon a
mission to repair an electricity installation when a mortar round
exploded 70 to 100 yards from the group (there were no reported
casualties). *1497
UNPROFOR reported less shelling than in the previous
days. Different parts of the city received fire, especially
Stupsko Brdo. Small-arms fire was heard through most parts of the
city. There was scattered and sporadic mortar fire in the areas
of Stup, Nedzarici and Dobrinja. *1498
Sporadic shelling was reported throughout the day.
*1499
(b) Local reported events
Overnight temperatures plunged to 23 degrees Fahrenheit
and electricity and water supplies in the city remained erratic.
Utility officials said that full power could not be restored
until repairs were carried out to installations damaged by
fighting. A UN protected utility crew was forced to abandon a
mission to repair an electricity installation when a mortar round
exploded 70 to 100 yards from the group (there were no reported
casualties). UNPROFOR said that from 1-15 November 28 UN
escorted water, gas and electricity repair missions had been
planned, but 10 were cancelled because of shelling and six
because workers failed to turn up. Three UNPROFOR repair
missions were dispatched on Saturday but utilities officials said
that electricity service could not be restored to normal within
the day. Water supplies remained well below normal because of
power problems, and the city was without gas supplies. *1500
22. 22/11/92 (Sunday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Heavy bombing of the city ended
nearly a week of «relative calm». The shelling was described in
one report as a possible Serb reprisal for BiH gains on two Serb
strongholds on the outskirts of the city in the last two days.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- The area near the BiH Presidency; western
residential areas; the Old Town area.
Source(s): United Press
International; Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Sniper and machine-gun fire were reported
throughout the night; several people were hit by sniper fire
during the day.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Casualties :
- At least one person was killed and the state hospital
reported eight others wounded in a shelling attack near the BiH
Presidency and in western residential areas that began at about
1:00 p.m. and ended two hours later. Later reports showed one
person killed and up to 32 wounded including several people hit
by sniper fire and a child injured by shrapnel in his home in the
Old Town west of the city centre. *1501
Source(s): United Press
International; Reuters.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Heavy bombing of the city ended nearly a week of
«relative calm» with shelling near the BiH Presidency and in
western residential areas. At least one person was killed, and
the state hospital reported eight others wounded in the attack
that began at about 1:00 p.m. before subsiding two hours
later. *1502 Sniper and machine-gun fire was also reported
throughout the night. *1503
BiH forces were believed to have captured two Serb
strongholds on the outskirts of Sarajevo in the last two days and
today's bombardment was seen as a possible Serb reprisal. *1504
(b) Local reported events
NATO and WEU warships began enforcing the UN naval
blockade on Serbia and Montenegro by patrolling the Adriatic.
*1505
United Press International reported that despite
constant shelling, the musical «Hair» was playing three times a
week to standing room only audiences in the tiny auditorium of
Sarajevo's city-centre chamber theatre. According to a co-
director, the theatre had been shelled three times during
rehearsals. Throughout Sarajevo, entertainment had been
organized in hospitals, refugee centres, etc., but this was seen
as dangerous after a child died and another was wounded when a
mortar shell exploded as people were leaving a show (the name of
the show and date of this attack was not specified). Thereafter,
notification of performances were discreet in order to avoid the
attention of Serb artillery. *1506
23. 23/11/92 (Monday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UN monitors reported that 192
shells landed in BiH government controlled areas of the city
while two shells landed in Serb controlled areas. «There was
definitely increased shelling compared to the last few days»,
Canadian Commander Barry Frewer, spokesman for the UN command in
BiH, acknowledged. He said that most of the previous day's
fighting in Sarajevo had been monitored at the airport and in
suburbs to the west of the city. *1507 The Washington Post
reported that «in the past 10 days, the Serb guns have gone oddly
quiet. A cease-fire, most successful of the war, has drained
some of the horror out of daily life. The average daily death
toll has slipped from 12 to 3, as mortar and artillery positions
have given way to the odd sniper's bullet». The Post noted,
however, that «since last Thursday, the ambient level of machine-
gun fire and sporadic shelling has increased. Yesterday, shells
again started falling on apartment blocks». *1508
Source(s):
United Press International; Washington Post.
- Targets Hit :
- The west of the city; the city centre (early
morning).
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- A single mortar round fired into the city
centre early in the morning injured two civilians.
Source(s):
Reuters.
- Sniping Activity :
- Sniper fire could be heard in the west of the
city.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Casualties :
- A single mortar round fired into the city centre
early in the morning injured two civilians. Three people were
killed and 35 were wounded in Sarajevo in the 24 hours ending at
10:00 a.m. Monday morning. *1509
Source(s): Reuters; United Press
International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sporadic gunfire continued Monday in the city,
following a major Serb shelling on Sunday afternoon. *1510
In the foggy morning on Monday, heavy artillery could
be heard in the west of the city, as well as heavy machine-gun
and sniper fire. Police reported sporadic machine-gun fire in
the Old Town, the city centre, New Sarajevo and the Dobrinja
suburb throughout the night. A single mortar round fired into
the city centre early Monday morning injured two civilians. *1511
(b) Local reported events
Talks held Monday at the Sarajevo airport failed to
make any progress on the demilitarization of the city, the main
item on the agenda. It was reported that in a repetition of past
practice, the Serb side failed to send a delegate of sufficient
rank, effectively precluding substantive discussions. UN
officials earlier said that the airport talks would be crucial in
consolidating and expanding the cease-fire. *1512
It was reported that UN agencies did not send large
quantities of heating oil into Sarajevo because Serb forces would
not let them due to the fact that heating oil was considered a
strategic commodity because it could be used as diesel fuel for
trucks and tanks. *1513
It was reported that paramilitary groups in the city
«have taken control of many aspects of life in the city, causing
residents to speak of Sarajevo as `gangster city'. Robberies of
cars and other valuables had become common since a martial-law
decree authorized army and police units to commandeer civilian
property for war use». *1514
24. 24/11/92 (Tuesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The Old Town and Vogosca were
shelled during the day and at night a heavy artillery attack was
reported on the edge of the Old Town and in Hrasno and Dobrinja.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- The Old Town (day and evening); the outlying
district of Vogosca; Hrasno (evening); Dobrinja (evening).
Source(s): Reuters; United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- At least four people were reported killed
and four injured in the day's shelling.
Source(s): Reuters;
United Press International.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- At least four people were reported killed and four
injured. *1515
Source(s): United Press International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sarajevo radio reported shelling in the Old Town and in
the outlying district of Vogosca. During the night there was a
heavy artillery attack reported on the edge of the Old Town as
well as on the suburbs of Hrasno and Dobrinja. *1516
(b) Local reported events
BiH President Alija Izetbegovic held talks with Senator
Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y., the highest ranking American
politician to visit the city since the onset of the war. «At the
very least, humanitarian aid should reach the starving people»,
he was quoted as telling Moynihan, who arrived in the afternoon
and planned to tour the city on Wednesday. *1517
The UN international humanitarian airlift to the city
resumed a day after it was suspended because of fighting on the
perimeter of the city's airport. The number of flights was
restricted to eight of a planned 20 because of fog, UN officials
said. *1518
25. 25/11/92 (Wednesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Following a day of more than
average shelling, mortar and anti-aircraft fire was reported
across the Old Town throughout the night; sporadic shelling could
be heard mostly in the southern part of the city and; artillery
to the west intensified during the afternoon.
Source(s): United
Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- The Old Town; the southern section of the city; the
western section of the city (afternoon); a French relief
aeroplane.
Source(s): Reuters; United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- A French aeroplane bringing food to
Sarajevo was hit by small-arms fire as it landed at the airport
in the afternoon. One bullet went through the wing, but the craft
was not seriously damaged.
Source(s): Reuters; United Press
International.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- BiH health officials said that in the 24 hours to
10:00 a.m. Wednesday, six people were killed and 50 were wounded
in
Sarajevo. *1519
Source(s): United Press International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Mortar and anti-aircraft fire was reported across the
city's Old Town throughout the night. Much of the fire appeared
to come from Serb-held areas around the old Jewish cemetery. The
nighttime bombardment followed a day of more than average
shelling in the city. *1520 Sporadic shelling could be heard in
Sarajevo, mostly in the southern part of the city. Artillery
fire to the west intensified in the afternoon. *1521
A French aeroplane bringing food to Sarajevo was hit by
small-arms fire as it landed at the city's airport in the
afternoon. One bullet went through the wing of the aeroplane,
but the craft was not seriously damaged, and was able to fly to
the Port of Split. The incident prompted officials of the UNHCR
to suspend the airlift for the remainder of the day. *1522
(b) Local reported events
It was reported that truck and air deliveries of food
to Sarajevo in recent days had slightly exceeded the city's daily
needs of 270 metric tons. It was also reported, however, that
there was almost no food in UN warehouses in the city. *1523
A seven bus evacuation convoy of around 300 non-
combatants bound for Belgrade left the city in the afternoon. The
convoy was organized by a charity called the Children's Embassy.
A twin convoy bound for Split was unable to leave as scheduled
because the buses ferrying the first convoy out of Sarajevo did
not return in time to make a second journey. *1524
26. 26/11/92 (Thursday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Heavy mortar and machine-gun fire
was described in one report, while the city was described as
relatively calm in another.
Source(s): Reuters; United Press
International.
- Targets Hit :
- The city centre.
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Description of Damage :
- A seven year-old girl was reportedly
killed and four more children injured when a shell exploded near
the city centre.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Sniping Activity :
- In Dobrinja, one person was killed and one
injured in a sniper attack.
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Casualties :
- A seven-year-old girl was reported killed and four
more children injured in a shell explosion near the city centre.
In the suburb of Dobrinja one person was killed and one injured
in a sniper attack. *1525
Source(s): United Press International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
There was heavy mortar and machine-gun fire in Sarajevo
after a night of shooting which police said was concentrated on
the Old Town and one of the western suburbs. *1526
According to Radio Sarajevo, the city itself was
relatively calm, but a seven-year-old girl was reported killed
and four more children injured in a shell explosion near the city
centre. In the suburb of Dobrinja one person was killed and one
injured in a sniper attack. *1527
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
27. 27/11/92 (Friday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Sporadic artillery fire was
reported throughout the morning.
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- BiH health officials said that four people were
killed and 24 wounded in the city. *1532
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sporadic artillery fire was heard throughout the
morning in
Sarajevo. *1533
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
28. 28/11/92 (Saturday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- A Serb artillery attack was
reported in the morning.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Sarajevo suffered another electricity
shortage caused by a Serbian artillery attack in the morning.
*1538
Source(s): United Press International.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- In the 24 hour period ending at 10:00 a.m. on
Saturday, one person was killed and 24 were wounded in the city.
*1539
Source(s): United Press International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
No incidents reported.
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
Yugoslav Foreign Minister Ilija Djukic sent a personal
message to Hamid al-Ghabid, Secretary-General of the Islamic
Conference Organization (ICO), stressing that additional arms for
any of the warring sides would result in the further escalation
of the war with unpredictable and far-reaching consequences. The
ICO ministerial organization to which this message was sent was
to meet in Jedda on 1-2 December to discuss the crisis in BiH as
the main point of the agenda. *1543
29. 29/11/92 (Sunday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Not specified
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Not specified
- Narrative of Events :
-
No incidents reported.
(b) Local reported events
30. 30/11/92 (Monday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UNPROFOR reported that since the
cease-fire on 12 November shelling in Sarajevo had been
concentrated away from the old city to the suburbs of Dobrinja,
Butmir, Ilidza, Mojmilo, and Bistrik. It was reported that
shelling had occurred at lower levels than before the cease-fire
with the exception of 22 November when Serb forces heavily
shelled BiH forces who attacked the area of the military airfield
south of the main runway at the airport. *1546 UN monitors
reported 117 large caliber shells hitting BiH government-held
territory in the city during the 24 hour period ending Sunday
evening. Forty-six shells were seen hitting Serbian positions.
*1547
Source(s): UNPROFOR; United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- Viktor Bubanj Prison; the Old Town District; the
Parliament building; the Dobrinja area; UNPROFOR headquarters
(formerly the city's main post office).
Source(s): Reuters;
United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- A mortar attack on the Viktor Bubanj
Prison killed three inmates and wounded five others during
morning exercises; two people were wounded by anti-aircraft and
cannon fire in the Old Town district and 10 to 15 mortar rounds
hit the area around the Parliament building after midnight and
more than 100 shells hit Dobrinja, wounding two civilians; in the
morning, the UNPROFOR headquarters received a direct hit from an
anti-aircraft shell which failed to explode.
Source(s): Reuters;
United Press International.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that to date
in Sarajevo, 7,579 people had been killed or were missing (out of
that number, 2,839 had been recorded by health organizations),
45,179 had been wounded (out of that number 12,283 had been
heavily wounded), 282 people had been infected with hepatitis and
two people had suffered from typhus abdominalis. *1548 A mortar
attack on the Viktor Bubanj Prison killed three inmates and
wounded five others; two people were wounded by anti-aircraft and
cannon fire in the Old Town area; two civilians were wounded by
shelling in Dobrinja. The BiH Public Health Ministry reported
that four people had been killed and 21 injured in Sarajevo on
this day. *1549
Source(s): BiH Ministry of Public Health;
Reuters.
- Narrative of Events :
-
The city was reported calm in the morning although a
mortar attack on the Viktor Bubanj Prison, visited on Sunday by
Elie Wiesel, killed three inmates and wounded five others during
the prisoners' morning exercises. *1550 There were also reports
of people injured in the Old Town and outlying Dobrinja district.
Sarajevo police reported two wounded in anti-aircraft and cannon
fire in the Old Town district. They said that 10 to 15 mortar
rounds hit the area around the Parliament building after midnight
and more than 100 shells hit Dobrinja wounding two civilians.
*1551
(b) Local reported events
A weekend shutdown of electricity and natural gas left
the city without heating as temperatures dropped below freezing
again. Two teams of engineers went out in the morning under
armed escort to repair utilities damaged in fighting. *1552
UNPROFOR reported that during November over 3800
persons attempted to cross the airport between Butmir and
Dobrinja. UNPROFOR commented that the general trend was for armed
men to move from Butmir to Dobrinja while unarmed men moved from
Dobrinja to Butmir. Movement was reported to have taken place at
night, although there was some movement during foggy days.
UNPROFOR also reported that during the month of November 49
UNPROFOR flights and 415 UNHCR flights had landed. *1553
(c) International reported events
I. December 1992
1. 1/12/92 (Tuesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UN monitors recorded 330 Serbian
artillery rounds exploding in the city, compared to zero BiH
shells landing in the surrounding Serb-held areas. Tuesday's
fighting marked an upsurge in the combat, which had decreased in
Sarajevo since a 12 November cease-fire, according to Mick
Magnuson, an UNPROFOR civil affairs advisor. *1555
Source(s):
United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- A US C-130 Hercules Transport aeroplane;
unidentified apartment blocks in Sarajevo; Dobrinja; New
Sarajevo; Stupsko Brdo.
Source(s): United Press International;
Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Small-arms fire hit a US C-130 Hercules
transport aeroplane as it landed at the Sarajevo airport. No one
was injured; Serbian forces shelled apartment blocks in several
parts of Sarajevo, injuring at least four people.
Source(s):
United Press International; Reuters.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Serbian forces shelled apartment blocks in several
parts of Sarajevo, injuring at least four people. In the 24 hour
period that ended at 10:00 a.m., three people were killed and 31
were wounded in Sarajevo. *1556
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Small-arms fire hit a US C-130 Hercules transport
aeroplane as it landed at the Sarajevo airport. According to
UNHCR spokesman Peter Kessler, no one on the aeroplane was
injured, and it was able to take off for its base in Germany. It
was unknown who had fired, or whether the aeroplane was
deliberately targeted. *1557 The incident forced the suspension
of the humanitarian airlift into Sarajevo after 10 of a scheduled
17 flights had
landed. *1558
Heavy artillery fire prevented a UNHCR humanitarian
convoy from the Croatian border town of Metkovic from entering
Sarajevo, and UNHCR trucks were unable to retrieve food and
medicine stocks from the airport because of the fighting. *1559
Serbian forces shelled apartment blocks in several
parts of Sarajevo, injuring at least four people. *1560 There
was fighting in the south-western suburb of Dobrinja with
artillery and machine-gun fire, and mortar attacks on New
Sarajevo and Stupsko Brdo. *1561
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
2. 2/12/92 (Wednesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Serb artillery bombarded Sarajevo
and the outer districts of Otes and Stup overnight. Much of the
shellfire appeared to be directed at BiH military positions on
the outskirts of the city. Battles were fought in the western
suburb of Otes during the day as Serb forces used mortars and
heavy machine-guns to attack BiH defenders holed up in apartment
buildings and farm houses.
Source(s): Reuters; United Press
International.
- Targets Hit :
- Otes; Stup (overnight); government positions near
the BiH Parliament.
Source(s): Reuters; United Press
International, BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that nine
people had been killed and 74 injured on this day in Sarajevo.
*1564
Source(s): BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Serb artillery bombarded Sarajevo and the outer
districts of Otes and Stup throughout the night. BiH government
positions near parliament were hit, and heavy machine-gun fire
was reported in the inner Hrasno and Old Town
areas. *1565 Much of the Serbian tank and artillery fire
overnight and Wednesday appeared to be directed at BiH military
positions on the outskirts of the city. *1566
Battles were fought in the city's western suburb of
Otes during the day as Serb forces used mortars and heavy machine-
guns to attack BiH defenders holed up in apartment buildings and
farm houses. The Bosnian Serb news agency SRNA said the fighting
followed a Muslim attack on Serb positions
nearby. *1567 BiH military sources claimed that nine Serbian
tanks were destroyed and three captured in BiH infantry
operations. *1568
(b) Local reported events
Lance Corporal Brian Neilsen, a Danish soldier serving
with UNPROFOR was kidnapped Wednesday afternoon while jogging
near the town of Kiseljak outside Sarajevo. He was held for more
than seven hours by unidentified captors. Canadian Commander
Barry Frewer, a spokesman for the UN command, said that UNPROFOR
was considering the kidnapping an «isolated incident». *1569
(c) International reported events
3. 3/12/92 (Thursday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- During the 24 hour period ending
at midnight Thursday, UN military observers reported 1284
artillery and mortar shells fired by Serbian forces into BiH
government-controlled areas. During the same time, they observed
only 20 shells fired by the city's defenders. *1571 The heaviest
fighting occurred in Otes where UN monitors unofficially counted
528 incoming shells between 2:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.. During that
time they observed only 20 shells fired by the city's defenders.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- Otes; Azici; Bare and other western suburbs near the
road to the airport; Ilidza; Blazuj.
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Description of Damage :
- The heaviest fighting occurred in Otes
where UN monitors unofficially counted 528 incoming shells
between 2:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.. Most of the 47 wounded and
seven dead reported by city hospitals by early afternoon were
from Otes.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Most of the 47 wounded and seven dead reported by
city hospitals by early afternoon were from Otes. *1572 The
Sarajevo crisis centre reported 41 killed and 118 wounded in the
past 24 hours, the highest daily toll for weeks. *1573 The BiH
Public Health Ministry reported that 22 people had been killed
and 47 injured in Sarajevo on this day. *1574
Source(s): Reuters;
BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Serb artillery and mortar fire hit Muslim-held suburbs
through the night into Thursday. Sarajevo radio reported Serb
infantry attacks on Otes, Azici, Bare, and other western suburbs
near the road to the airport. *1575 Heavy shelling was also
reported in the suburbs of Ilidza and Blazuj, according to
Tanjug, the official Yugoslav news agency. *1576 The city's
centre was relatively quiet. *1577
The heaviest fighting occurred in Otes, where UN
monitors unofficially counted 528 incoming artillery shells
between 2:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Most of the 47 wounded and seven
dead reported by city hospitals by early afternoon were from
Otes. *1578
Soldiers from the Otes front line reported a Serb
breakthrough Thursday morning after they took three strategically-
placed houses Wednesday which permitted them to fire directly
onto BiH positions. Later in the day, BiH forces reportedly
retook one of the houses and destroyed two Serbian armoured
personnel carriers and a tank. BiH radio quoted local Croat
commander Franjo Talijanic as saying his men had repulsed a heavy
infantry attack on the suburb. Talijanic also said the task of
defending Otes was complicated by civilians trying to flee to
neighbouring Stup who were unable to get through because of heavy
shelling. *1579
A UN transport aeroplane carrying General Phillipe
Morillon, commander of UNPROFOR in BiH, was struck by six bullets
shortly after take-off from Sarajevo at 4:00 PM, causing minor
damage to the Russian-made Antonov-12 aircraft. No one was
injured and the aeroplane continued on to Zagreb. The UN
suspended all flights related to peace-keeping operations for 48
hours. *1580
(b) Local reported events
4. 4/12/92 (Friday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Serb forces continued their
shelling of Sarajevo Friday. Staff at UN headquarters were
forced to take shelter in the basement twice due to the intensity
of the shelling. UN artillery monitors reported that Serb forces
fired at least 1,480 shells into parts of Sarajevo controlled by
the BiH government. Just 30 shells were seen falling into
Serbian positions. *1582 UN officials estimated that some 1,500
shells hit Otes on Thursday and Friday, up from a daily average
of 500 to 600 on Tuesday and Wednesday. *1583
Source(s): United
Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- The area to the rear and sides of Otes (Stup,
Nedzarici, Mojmilo, Dobrinja and Alipasin Most); the perimeter of
the city in the north.
Source(s): UNPROFOR; United Press
International.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that 10
people had been killed and 100 injured on this day in Sarajevo.
*1584
Source(s): BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
UNPROFOR reported the heaviest shelling in some time.
It was reported that the BiH forces may have tried attacking out
of the west side of the city to gain control of the access route.
The Serbs then responded with heavy shelling and then attacked
Otes with tanks. In doing so, UNPROFOR believed that they shelled
the area to the rear and sides of Otes (Stup, Nedzarici, Mojmilo,
Dobrinja and Alipasin Most) which were held by Muslims. It was
felt that they may have done this to prevent BiH from bringing
forward reinforcements. It was noted that during the shelling the
Serbs used the complete range of fuses available to them, i.e.,
air burst, delayed and point detonating. The Serbs were believed
to have held a large portion of Otes. There were also other
reports of shelling on the perimeter of the city in the north.
*1585
Another report described the continued battle for the
suburb of Otes, six miles from the city centre. BiH forces there
armed with home-made anti-tank rockets held their ground against
the Serbian thrust. UN officials estimated that some 1,500
shells hit Otes on Thursday and Friday, up from a daily average
of 500 to 600 on Tuesday and Wednesday. *1586 An estimated 2,000
civilians were trapped in the suburb by the fighting. Local
officials said they had attempted to obtain UNPROFOR assistance
to evacuate sick people and children from Otes, but that no
UNPROFOR personnel had visited the village since the assault on
Otes began Tuesday. *1587 The fighting forced an estimated 600
residents to flee Otes on Friday. *1588
(b) Local reported events
The UN humanitarian airlift into Sarajevo remained
suspended Friday, and Indian General Satish Nambiar, commander of
UNPROFOR in the former Yugoslavia, said that all UNPROFOR and
humanitarian flights would remain suspended until he received
adequate safety guarantees from the warring parties. *1589
5. 5/12/92 (Saturday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The Sarajevo suburb of Otes fell to
the Serbian forces and for the first time in days, downtown
Sarajevo came under heavy fire.
Source(s): Washington Post;
United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- Districts around Otes including Stupsko Brdo, Stup
and Azici; the Holiday Inn; a 21 story apartment building across
the street from the Holiday Inn; the Old Town and the
neighbourhoods between the Holiday Inn and the airport; the
terminal building at the Sarajevo airport.
Source(s): Reuters;
United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- The Holiday Inn was hit by tracer bullets
which started a fire which was quickly extinguished; across the
road from the hotel, a long burst by automatic weapons caused a
fire in a 21 story apartment building; one of Sarajevo's main
hospitals reported receiving 20 injured people in the first half
hour of shelling; a mortar round hit the terminal building at
Sarajevo airport, slightly wounding two Portuguese UNPROFOR
soldiers.
Source(s): Reuters; United Press International.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- One of Sarajevo's main hospitals reported receiving
20 injured people in the first half hour of shelling of the city.
*1590 The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that 11 people were
killed and 131 were injured in Sarajevo on this day. *1591
Source(s): United Press International; BiH Ministry of Public
Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
The Sarajevo suburb of Otes fell to the Serbs Saturday,
according to some reports, after Bosnian Muslim defenders ran out
of ammunition. Serb tanks rolled into Otes, which juts into the
western outskirts of the city near the airport. Its fall gave
the Serbs control of the western side of Sarajevo. The Belgrade-
based news agency Tanjug said both sides sustained heavy
casualties. *1592 Bosnian Serb television showed Serb troops
walking thorough part of Otes. BiH radio reported only that the
defenders had withdrawn to a second line of defence and were
being reinforced. *1593
The BiH army general staff said in a statement carried
by radio that Otes had been almost totally destroyed. UN
officials said the BiH army had asked for help in evacuating
10,000 civilians from Otes, but UNPROFOR could not assist them
because of the heavy shelling. *1594 Hundreds of civilians
fleeing Otes had to make their way along the river bank because
the only road connecting Otes with Sarajevo was cut by Serb
artillery. An unknown number of civilians died when Serb
artillery fire was directed towards the river. *1595 UN
officials estimated that 500 civilians remained trapped in the
suburb. *1596
BiH radio reported sporadic Serb shelling of districts
around Otes, including Stupsko Brdo, Stup and Azici. *1597
UN military observers believed that the Serb offensive
against Otes was the most intense battle to date in the Sarajevo
area. According to Colonel Richard Mole, a Briton heading the UN
team of military observers in Sarajevo, Otes had been the target
of 1,500 rounds of artillery and tank fire Thursday and Friday.
UN officials said that more than 100 civilians died in the siege
of Otes. *1598
For the first time in days, downtown Sarajevo came
under heavy fire. The Holiday Inn was hit by tracer bullets,
which started a fire. It was quickly extinguished. Across the
road from the hotel, a long burst of automatic weapons caused a
fire in a 21 story apartment building. *1599 The Old Town and
neighbourhoods between the Holiday Inn and the airport were also
targets. One of Sarajevo's main hospitals reported receiving 20
injured people in the first half hour of shelling. *1600
The top UN commander in Sarajevo, Brigadier-General
Adnan Abdelrazek, Egyptian commander of 1,400 troops in and
around the city, expressed his opinion that the warring parties
should be warned that UN troops would be used to end the fighting
and that those responsible for the bloodshed would be publicly
tried. He conceded that there was no hope of securing observance
of the 12 November cease-fire and that the UN mission was
powerless to stop the carnage. Shortly after he spoke, a mortar
round hit the terminal building at Sarajevo airport, slightly
wounding two Portuguese police officers attached to the UN peace-
keeping force. *1601
(b) Local reported events
6. 6/12/92 (Sunday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UN military observers recorded 12
artillery rounds fired from BiH positions in the 24 hour period
ending 10:30 p.m. Sunday, while 711 Serbian rounds fell on BiH-
held areas. *1603
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- Otes; Hrasnica, Butmir, and Sokolovici on the
western outskirts of the city; the BiH Presidency (five direct
hits); the Kosevo Hospital complex (30 shells).
Source(s):
Reuters; United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- The offices of the BiH Presidency received
five direct hits in the afternoon; more than 30 shells landed in
the Kosevo hospital complex. One nurse was killed in the attack.
Source(s): Reuters; United Press International.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- BiH health officials said that 26 people died and
108 were injured in Sarajevo during a 24 hour period ending 10:00
a.m. Sunday. But officials could not obtain a count from the
suburb of Otes. *1604
Source(s): Reuters.
- Narrative of Events :
-
The town of Otes, six miles from the centre of Sarajevo
on the approach to the airport, was overrun and destroyed by
Serbian forces. Heavy shelling was reported. *1605 Combined
Muslim and Croat forces established a new line of defence between
Otes and the nearby suburb of Stup *1606
The BiH army announced Sunday that it had captured the
villages of Orlic and Zivkocici, to the north-west of the city,
leaving the single Serb stronghold of Zuc Hill in that sector.
*1607
Heavy artillery barrages were reported in the suburbs
of Hrasnica, Butmir and Sokolovici on the western outskirts of
the city. Mortar and small-arms fire could be heard around the
city all day. *1608
Shelling continued in Sarajevo. The offices of the BiH
Presidency in downtown Sarajevo received five direct hits Sunday
afternoon. More than 30 shells landed in the city's Kosevo
hospital complex. One nurse was killed in the attack, according
to Sarajevo radio. *1609
(b) Local reported events
Sarajevo was without telephone service on Sunday, and
most of the city had no electricity.
The humanitarian airlift into Sarajevo remained
suspended because of security concerns. *1610
Three UNHCR land convoys were stopped before reaching
the city. Fifteen trucks had to unload at the airport because
the road into Sarajevo was judged unsafe, and two convoys from
the Croatian port of Split had to stop at Kiseljak, 15 miles west
of Sarajevo, because of heavy fighting. *1611
Vladimir Kalea, president of the Sarajevo taxi-drivers'
association, appealed to fellow taxi-drivers around the world for
financial assistance. Throughout the war, Sarajevo taxi-drivers
had voluntarily transported the wounded, elderly, and sick. As
of Sunday, an estimated 50 of the pre-war fleet of 2,500 cabs was
still operating. An estimated 350 taxi drivers and truckers had
been killed. *1612
7. 7/12/92 (Monday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Serb forces shelled BiH forces
trying to break through Serb lines to the north of the city.
Snipers were active and the main hospital was shelled in the
city.
Source(s): United Press International; Reuters; BiH
Ministry of Public Health.
- Targets Hit :
- Sarajevo's main hospital (32 shells).
Source(s): BiH
Ministry of Public Health.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Snipers were active in Sarajevo Monday,
driving most people off the streets. Cars were fired on near the
Yugoslav army's former Marsal Tito Barracks. *1613
Source(s):
United Press International.
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that in
Sarajevo to date, 7,694 people had been killed or were missing
(of this number, 2,924 of the killed had been registered in
health organizations), 45,691 had been wounded (13,086 were
heavily wounded and 1,800 were listed as invalids). Of these
numbers, 779 children were listed as killed or missing, 11,422
were listed as wounded (1,780 were heavily wounded), and 177 were
listed as invalids. *1614
Source(s): BiH Ministry of Public
Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
A BiH counter-attack was reported with heavy
casualties. *1615 Serb artillery pounded BiH forces trying to
break through Serb lines to the north of the city. Sarajevo
radio claimed that BiH troops to the north had pushed to the
outskirts of the Serb-held suburb of Vogosca, where a major Serb
ammunition factory was located. BiH troops in the south-west had
captured Bacevo, where Sarajevo's main water wells were located.
Other BiH advances were made at Zuc and Trebevic, cutting off
Ilidza from the Serb headquarters in Pale. But the Belgrade-
based news agency Tanjug reported later that the Muslim offences
were pushed back. The reports could not be independently
confirmed. *1616
It was reported by the BiH Health Ministry that 32
shells hit Sarajevo's main hospital. *1617 Sylvana Foa,
spokeswoman for UNHCR, said that UN equipment at the airport was
hit by mortar shelling several
times. *1618
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
8. 8/12/92 (Tuesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Fighting continued on the
boundaries of the city after BiH forces continued a two-day
counter-offensive. The UNPROFOR headquarters was shelled.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- The UN mission (afternoon).
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Description of Damage :
- Shellfire hit the UN mission at about 4:40
p.m., injuring one person and forcing staffers into the basement.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The city's medical crisis centre reported 21 dead
and 116 wounded in Sarajevo in the 24 hours up to 10:00 a.m..
Source(s): United Press International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Fighting continued on the boundaries of the city as the
BiH forces continued a two-day-old counter-offensive to recapture
strategic fringe areas from Serbian troops. The BiH army claimed
to have captured Vidikovac Hill, on the northern end of the city.
*1621
Shellfire hit the UN mission at about 4:40 p.m.,
injuring one person. Staffers rushed to the basement, where they
remained for about 40
minutes. *1622
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
9. 9/12/92 (Wednesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UN monitors recorded 439 shells
fired by Serbian gunners, while BiH defenders fired six shells.
*1627 Serb artillery continued to bombard Muslim-held districts
of the city.
Source(s): United Press International; Washington
Post.
- Targets Hit :
- An unidentified bread line in one of the Muslim
district of the city; Kosevo Hospital Complex (Psychiatric Unit);
the area near the BiH Presidency building; BiH positions on Zuc
Hill; the area near the city centre headquarters of the UN
command; BiH-held villages to the north of Sarajevo.
Source(s):
Washington Post; United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- Five people were killed and dozens others
wounded after a bread line was shelled in an unidentified Muslim
district of the city; one patient was injured when the Kosevo
Hospital Complex (Psychiatric Unit) was hit by shell fire.
Source(s): Washington Post; United Press International.
- Sniping Activity :
- Civilians ran for cover as Serbian snipers
fired into surrounding streets and near the state-run hospital
(Kosevo).
Source(s): United Press International.
- Casualties :
- BiH health officials said that 32 people were killed
and 249 wounded in fighting around the republic in the 24 hour
period up to 10:00 a.m.. In Sarajevo, 24 people died and 174 were
wounded. *1628
Source(s): United Press International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Serb artillery continued to bombard Muslim districts of
the city, killing five people standing in line for bread and
wounding dozens of
others. *1629
Civilians ran for cover in Sarajevo as Serbian snipers
fired into surrounding streets and near the state-run hospital.
Dr. Jovo Vranic, director of the emergency centre at Kosevo
Hospital Complex, said one patient was injured when the
hospital's psychiatric unit was hit by shell fire. He said 59
casualties had been treated at the hospital since 8:00 a.m.
Wednesday, most of them for shrapnel wounds, and that between 70
and 80 shells had landed in the hospital complex since the
weekend. Thirty-four people were treated for shrapnel and bullet
wounds at the hospital, according to Dr. Ranko Covic of the
hospital's emergency centre. *1630
Several shells exploded near the BiH Presidency
building on the edge of the Old Town. Serbian multiple rocket
launchers attacked BiH positions on Zuc Hill, in the north of
Sarajevo, where BiH and Serbian troops were engaged in a struggle
for control of strategic high ground. *1631
There were explosions near the city centre headquarters
of the UN command for BiH. Serb artillery also fired down on BiH-
held villages to the north of Sarajevo. *1632
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
In New York, the United Nations Security Council warned
Serbian forces that it would consider taking «further measures»
if they did not stop attacking Sarajevo and UN peace-keeping
troops. The Council said in a statement that it was
«particularly alarmed» at reports of Serbian pressure on the
civilian population to leave Sarajevo and warned that «further
aggravation» of the situation in and around the city would result
in «grave consequences for the overall situation of that
country». «If such attacks and actions continue, the Council will
have to consider, as soon as possible, further measures against
those who commit or support them to ensure the security of the UN
Protection Force, its ability to fulfil its mandate and
compliance by all parties with the Council's relevant
resolutions», the statement said. *1636
10. 10/12/92 (Thursday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UN monitors reported reduced
shelling in Sarajevo on Thursday, with 91 heavy rounds landing on
Serbian positions and 35 heavy rounds fired into BiH-controlled
areas. *1637
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Thirteen people were reported killed in the 24 hours
up until Thursday morning. *1638
Source(s): Reuters.
- Narrative of Events :
-
No incidents reported.
(b) Local reported events
11. 11/12/92 (Friday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UN monitors reported reduced
shelling in the Sarajevo area. *1641
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Not specified
- Narrative of Events :
-
No incidents reported.
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
12. 12/12/92 (Saturday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The northern part of Sarajevo was
reported under heavy machine-gun fire early and small-arms fire
was heaviest around the Serb-held territory in the centre of the
city. In the evening, BiH positions around Vogosca came under
small-arms fire and sporadic shelling.
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Targets Hit :
- Serb-held territory in the heart of the city; BiH
positions around Vogosca; the area near General Morillon's UN
headquarters.
Source(s): United Press International; Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH government crisis centre in Sarajevo
reported that the official number of dead during the war was now
17,622 in Muslim and Croat controlled areas, and 2,924 in
Sarajevo. *1647
Source(s): Reuters.
- Narrative of Events :
-
The northern portion of Sarajevo was reported under
heavy machine-gun fire early Saturday and small-arms fire was
heaviest around Serb-held territory in the heart of the city.
During the night BiH positions around Vogosca, just north of
Sarajevo, came under small-arms fire and sporadic shelling. *1648
Shells landed near General Phillipe Morillon's
headquarters in the city. He told reporters he planned a new
attempt to convince the warring parties to cease hostilities.
*1649
(b) Local reported events
13. 13/12/92 (Sunday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- After BiH forces reportedly gained
control of Zuc hill, Serb artillery began pounding the area.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- Zuc Hill.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Not specified
- Narrative of Events :
-
UNPROFOR confirmed the BiH claim that they had wrested
control of strategic Zuc hill north of the city from Serb forces.
UNPROFOR sources said Serb artillery was pounding the hill
commanding the northern approaches to the capital. *1652
(b) Local reported events
Senior officials of warring Muslim, Croat and Serb
forces in BiH renewed a cease-fire (reportedly the 19th) Sunday
and agreed in principle to open three corridors for the safe
passage of civilians out of Sarajevo. The agreement was signed
by Serbian General Milan Gvero, Colonel Stjepan Siber of the
predominantly Muslim Slav BiH army and Dario Kordic of the
Croatian Defence Council. Shelling was audible throughout the
cease-fire talks, and small-arms and machine-gun fire could be
heard later. *1653
Sarajevo continued to be without power, fuel, running
water or telephones. *1654
14. 14/12/92 (Monday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Despite a new cease-fire agreement,
shell fire was reported in the morning in the Old Town and
western areas, as well as on Zuc Hill which was captured last
week by BiH forces. Kosevo Hospital was hit again.
Source(s):
United Press International; Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- The Old Town; western areas of the city; Zuc Hill;
the Kosevo Hospital Complex; the area near the vehicle of Paddy
Ashdown who was visiting British troops; the garden of UNPROFOR
General Morillon's residence; three power substations.
Source(s):
United Press International; Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Two direct hits were reported on the
Kosevo Hospital Complex; shellfire heavily damaged three
substations supplying power to the mainwater pumping
installations in the western suburb of Bacevo.
Source(s): United
Press International; Reuters.
- Sniping Activity :
- Sniper fire was reported in the streets of
Sarajevo.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that seven
people were killed and 83 wounded in Sarajevo on this date. *1655
Source(s): BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
UNPROFOR reported that Sarajevo had been going through
a period of consolidation. Near the western end of the runway,
Otes and Azici were in Serb hands. In the north, Zuc and Vis
were in BiH hands. Serbs had gained a little ground near Betanija
in the north of the old city. In the Dolovi, the BiH forces had
pushed out to the south. *1656
Despite a new cease-fire agreement signed a day
earlier, Sarajevo residents awoke to Serb shell-fire into the Old
Town and western areas. Serbs also fired on Zuc Hill, a
strategic mount on the city's northern edge captured by BiH
forces last week, according to Sarajevo radio. *1657 Talks on
implementing the day-old cease-fire foundered on a BiH demand for
a withdrawal of Serb heavy weaponry at least 20 miles from the
airport, so that it would be out of range of three proposed UN-
protected corridors for civilian movement in and out of Sarajevo.
*1658
At least three people were reported killed and 28
others wounded as Serbian snipers fired at those who ventured
into the streets. Serbian artillery blasted civilian targets,
scoring two direct hits on the Kosevo hospital complex. A mortar
bomb exploded near the vehicle of Paddy Ashdown, the British
Liberal Democratic Party leader, who was visiting British troops
protecting UN aid convoys. *1659 The shelling persisted after
dark. At about 6:00 p.m., a suspected anti-aircraft shell
exploded in the garden of General Morillon's residence, UN
officials said. *1660
A UNPROFOR spokesman said shellfire heavily damaged
three substations supplying power to the main water pumping
installations in the western suburb of Bacevo. *1661
(b) Local reported events
15. 15/12/92 (Tuesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Not specified
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that seven
people were killed and 108 wounded in Sarajevo. *1665
Source(s):
BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that seven
people were killed and 108 wounded in Sarajevo. *1666
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
16. 16/12/92 (Wednesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The city was reported as quiet for
a few hours, but fighting resumed in the afternoon.
Source(s):
Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- An unidentified residential district.
Source(s):
Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Three children were killed and one was
wounded when a mortar hit an unidentified residential district.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Sniping Activity :
- Those entering the State Hospital facility had
to run for cover from sniper volleys. *1670
Source(s): United
Press International.
- Casualties :
- Three children were killed and one was wounded when
a mortar hit an unidentified residential district. The BiH Public
Health Ministry reported that seven people were killed and 49
injured on this day in Sarajevo. *1671
Source(s): Reuters; BiH
Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
The city was quiet for a few hours Wednesday, but
fighting resumed in the afternoon. In one incident, three
children were killed and one was wounded when a mortar hit a
residential district. *1672
(b) Local reported events
A BiH government boycott of UN-sponsored talks
endangered a plan to establish safe corridors for civilians in
and out of Sarajevo, where residents endured another freezing day
without electricity or water. Fog also crushed hopes that the
UNHCR could resume the humanitarian airlift that was suspended 1
December after a small-arms attack on a US transport aeroplane.
*1673 UN food supplies ran out. *1674
Conditions at the city's two main hospitals worsened.
An emergency supply of fuel from UNPROFOR provided the State
Hospital enough power to have minimal electricity for eight hours
for six days. The facility was without heat and relied on a
tanker truck for a daily ration of water. The area around the
State Hospital was within sniper range of Serb-held Grbavica.
Those entering the facility reportedly had to run for cover from
sniper volleys. *1675
Doctors at Kosevo hospital estimated that between 70
and 80 Serbian shells hit the centre's buildings during the
previous week's fighting. Lack of electricity, heating and
water, and depletion of medical supplies impaired hospital
operations. *1676
(c) International reported events
US Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger announced in
Geneva the names of leaders «who directly controlled persons who
committed war crimes and perhaps issued orders to carry out those
crimes». He also called for the enforcement of the no-fly zone
and the lifting of the arms embargo. He insisted that the West
would «stand for nothing less than the restoration of the
independent state of Bosnia-Hercegovina with its territory
undivided and intact; the return of all refugees to their homes
and villages; and, indeed, a day of reckoning for those found
guilty of crimes against humanity». *1677
17. 17/12/92 (Thursday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The city was reported as relatively
quiet as heavy fog reduced shelling.
Source(s): New York Times;
United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that three
people were killed and 26 injured on this day in Sarajevo. *1678
Source(s): BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sarajevo was reported to be relatively quiet Thursday,
as heavy fog reduced shelling in the city. *1679
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
18. 18/12/92 (Friday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Small-arms fire was reported near
the airport and intermittent shelling was reported in central
Sarajevo.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- Central Sarajevo.
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that six
people were killed and 24 injured on this day in Sarajevo. *1684
Source(s): BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Small-arms fire rang out from houses surrounding the
airport as Lord David Owen landed in Sarajevo. Intermittent
explosions could also be heard in central Sarajevo. *1685
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
19. 19/12/92 (Saturday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Serb forces shelled the Old Town
and sporadic gunfire and other explosions hit other areas of the
city.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- The Old Town area; other areas of the city.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Health Ministry reported that seven people
were killed and 46 injured on this day in Sarajevo. *1691
Source(s): BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Serb forces shelled Sarajevo's Old Town, and sporadic
gunfire and other explosions rocked other areas of the city.
*1692
(b) Local reported events
Lord Owen met with Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and
with BiH President Alija Izetbegovic. Owen told Karadzic that the
indiscriminate shelling of Sarajevo was a «disgrace» and could
not be allowed to continue. Owen met with Karadzic in his
stronghold of Pale, just east of Sarajevo, as gunners directed
fresh bursts of mortar and anti-aircraft fire into the city.
*1693
Later in the day, BiH, Serbian and Croatian negotiators
met at Sarajevo airport for talks on reaffirming an unobserved 12
November truce and creating protected corridors for civilian
movement in and out of the city. *1694
20. 20/12/92 (Sunday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Two UN monitors reported that 253
shells fell on Serbian positions around the city and 188 shells
landed on BiH controlled areas. *1695
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Targets Hit :
- The city centre and nearby areas.
Source(s): United
Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that six
people were killed and 25 injured in Sarajevo. *1696
Source(s):
BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sarajevo residents spent a 13th day without electricity
and a seventh without water as Serbian mortar and anti-aircraft
gunners fired sporadically into the heart of the city and nearby
areas. *1697
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
21. 21/12/92 (Monday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Fighting continued with anti-
aircraft and heavy machine-gun fire in the centre of the city.
The Bosnian Serb news agency reported that the fighting was worst
in the west and north-western parts of the city. Sarajevo radio
reported that Muslim and Croat forces pushed Serb fighters back
250 yards in an advance on Vogosca.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- The city centre.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- The State hospital reported that one person was
treated for sniper wounds.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Casualties :
- BiH health officials said that nine people were
killed in Sarajevo in the 24 hour period up to 10:00 a.m. Monday.
Another 53 were wounded. *1704
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Fighting continued Monday, with anti-aircraft and heavy
machine-gun fire in the centre of the city. The Bosnian Serb
news agency SRNA said that the fighting was worst in the west and
north-western parts of the city. Muslim-controlled Sarajevo
radio said Muslim and Croat forces pushed Serb fighters back 250
yards in an advance on Vogosca outside Sarajevo. *1705
Doctors at the State Hospital said Monday was quiet,
with just 1 person treated for sniper wounds. *1706
(b) Local reported events
22. 22/12/92 (Tuesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UN monitors said 17 shells landed
Tuesday in Serb-controlled areas, while 90 shells fell in BiH
government-controlled areas. *1709 The Bosnian Serb news agency
reported fighting in the suburbs and Sarajevo radio reported Serb
artillery fire in the Vogosca area and mortar fire on Kobilja
Glava. There was small-arms fire reported in the city centre.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- The Vogosca area; Kobilja Glava.
Source(s): United
Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Not specified
- Narrative of Events :
-
Bosnian Serb news agency SRNA and BiH radio reported
fighting in the suburbs of Sarajevo. *1710 There was sporadic
small-arms fire in the centre of the city. Sarajevo radio also
reported Serb artillery fire in the Vogosca area north of the
city and mortar fire on nearby Kobilja Glava. *1711
(b) Local reported events
UN-sponsored talks between commanders of the warring
factions in Sarajevo continued. A spokesman for the UN command
in BiH said that UN troops would be deployed in a buffer zone
between BiH government and Serb troops outside the Sarajevo
airport. *1712
The humanitarian airlift which had been resumed a day
earlier continued, though hampered by poor weather. Only three
flights made it into Sarajevo. The truck convoys also resumed,
after being stopped for a week by fighting. 52 trucks arrived
from the Croatian town of Metkovic and Belgrade with 600 tons of
aid, the largest one-day UNHCR consignment to the city to date.
*1713
23. 23/12/92 (Wednesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Sporadic artillery fire in the
centre of the city escalated after dark.
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Targets Hit :
- The city centre.
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- BiH health officials said three people were killed
and 22 wounded in the 24 hour period ending 10:00 a.m. Wednesday.
*1714
Source(s): United Press International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sporadic artillery fire in the centre of Sarajevo
escalated after
dark. *1715
(b) Local reported events
UNHCR scheduled 18 humanitarian aid flights into
Sarajevo carrying 180 tons of food and medicine. Seventeen
aeroplanes arrived. Road convoys arrived from the Croatian
border town of Metkovic and Belgrade with a total of 36 trucks.
Total aid flown and brought in by truck on Wednesday amounted to
477 tons. Residents remained without electricity or running
water. *1716 UN officials said a major supply of diesel fuel was
delivered to Kosevo hospital, fulfilling Lord Owen's promise to
ensure the hospital would be adequately heated. *1717
UNHCR evacuated 15 wounded children and their relatives
out of Sarajevo, and the BiH government agreed to allow a pre-
Christmas evacuation of another 1,500 sick and wounded. UN
officials also pressed BiH officials to return to the negotiating
table. *1718
24. 24/12/92 (Thursday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UN officers estimated that about
400 artillery, tank and mortar shells exploded in the city. *1719
Source(s): New York Times.
- Targets Hit :
- Vogosca (evening); UN Headquarters (two shells); the
western part of the city.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- A British officer was slightly wounded as
two mortar shells exploded in the compound of the UN command
headquarters; eight casualties were admitted to the State
Hospital, six of whom were wounded in a single explosion in the
western part of the city.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- BiH health officials said three people were killed
and 22 wounded in Sarajevo in the 24 hour period ending 10:00
a.m. Thursday. Eight casualties were admitted to the State
Hospital, six of whom were wounded from a single explosion in the
western part of the city. One was in serious condition. *1720
Source(s): United Press International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
The escalation in fighting that began Wednesday night
continued into Thursday. Serbian forces fired artillery rounds
into the city; heavy machine-gun fire occurred around the Serb-
held enclave of Grbavica in the centre of Sarajevo; the Serb-held
northern suburb of Vogosca came under artillery fire during the
night. A British officer was slightly wounded as two mortar
shells exploded in the compound of the UN command headquarters.
*1721
Eight casualties were admitted to the State Hospital,
six of whom were wounded from a single explosion in the western
part of the city. One was in serious condition. *1722
(b) Local reported events
25. 25/12/92 (Friday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Shelling was reportedly reduced on
Christmas Day, but several large explosions hit the centre of
Sarajevo in the morning.
Source(s): Helsinki Watch Report; United
Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- The city centre; the Kosevo hospital compound.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Not specified
- Narrative of Events :
-
Shelling was reportedly reduced on Christmas Day. *1726
Several large explosions rocked the centre of Sarajevo
in the morning. Sarajevo radio said Serb-fired shells landed in
the compound of the Kosevo hospital, near Morillon's residence.
*1727
(b) Local reported events
The UN commander in BiH (French General Phillipe
Morillon) charged that he was deliberately targeted by two
separate mortar attacks staged from territory in Sarajevo
controlled by BiH troops. The first occurred Thursday when a
mortar explosion smashed windows on the ground floor of his
residence in central Sarajevo (slightly injuring a British
soldier). The second attack came at 6:35 a.m. on this day when
mortar shells exploded two yards from the main entrance to the
building, a converted parliamentarians club set in a leafy
compound near the offices of the BiH presidency. *1728
Shortly after noon, a bus filled with people suffering
from various illnesses left Sarajevo. Safe-passage had been
agreed with the Serbs on the outskirts of the city. *1729
26. 26/12/92 (Saturday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UN monitors said the level of
artillery fire in the city decreased Saturday. Ten artillery
rounds landed on parts of the city controlled by the BiH
Government. By contrast, 99 shells landed on Serb-controlled
areas. *1730
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Not specified
- Narrative of Events :
-
There was little artillery or small-arms fire in the
city during the day, though machine-gun exchanges around the Serb-
held enclave of Grbavica in the centre of town erupted after
dark. *1731
(b) Local reported events
27. 27/12/92 (Sunday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Mortar shells hit a residential
area in the new part of the city in the morning and there were
heavy machine-gun exchanges reported around Grbavica.
Source(s):
United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- An unidentified residential area in the newer part
of the city (morning).
Source(s): United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Not specified
- Narrative of Events :
-
Three mortar shells exploded in a residential area in
the newer part of the city in the morning and there were heavy
machine-gun exchanges reported around the Serb-held neighbourhood
of Grbavica in the centre of the
city. *1737
(b) Local reported events
The temperature in the city dropped to minus 13 degrees
Celsius (eight degrees Fahrenheit) in the morning with no
progress reported on restoring electricity, gas and water
supplies. UNPROFOR reported an estimated 25 day supply of water
in the city. UNPROFOR was unable to supply insulating oil for
transformers that channel electricity to the city's main pumping
station. *1738
(c) International reported events
28. 28/12/92 (Monday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UNPROFOR reported that over the
last two weeks, mortar and artillery fire had increased from Mt.
Igman. UNPROFOR said that the level of fire from the BiH
positions weighed the Serbian fire. There was also reported to
have been a lot of vehicle movement on Mt. Igman during the
week. *1741
Source(s): UNPROFOR.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that four
people had been killed and 35 wounded in Sarajevo on this day.
*1742
Source(s): BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
No incidents reported.
(b) Local reported events
Sarajevo began a third week without electricity which
was cut by Serbian shellfire, and a second week without running
water. An overnight blizzard was also reported. UNHCR provided
90 tons of fuel to the city on Sunday night to keep relief
deliveries going, but city officials said that they might have to
suspend supplies of aid to neighbourhoods clustered on the sides
of the steep slopes of the valley because trucks were having
trouble negotiating the narrow snow covered roads. The UNHCR
reported record volumes of food being brought into the city, but
estimated that 10 per cent to 20 per cent of the supplies had
been diverted to the black market. *1743
A UNHCR spokesman said that at least 35 elderly
patients of a nursing home situated close to the front lines on
the western outskirts of the city had died over the past few
months because of a lack of food and heat. «The mortality rate
appears to be at least one person every two days», he
said. *1744
The Washington Post reported that freezing people in
the city had cut down trees in parks for firewood, and had
stripped shelled buildings of anything that could be burned,
«beams, flooring, roofing, wallpaper, foam insulation». *1745
Yugoslav Prime Minister Panic lost a no-confidence vote
in the federal parliament. *1746
(c) International reported events
29. 29/12/92 (Tuesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Sporadic artillery fire was
directed to the city's Old Town, while heavier shell blasts
crashed in southern neighbourhoods.
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Targets Hit :
- A Danish UN armoured personnel carrier at the
Sarajevo airport; the Old Town; southern neighbourhoods in the
city; western parts of the city (evening); the area near the BiH
Presidency building.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- A Danish UN armoured personnel carrier
came under mortar fire near the Sarajevo airport. Eight rounds
exploded around the vehicle, the closest approximately 20 yards
away; one person was killed and one injured during an evening
bombardment of the western part of the city.
Source(s): United
Press International.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- One person was killed and one injured during an
evening bombardment of the western part of the city, Sarajevo
radio said. *1748 The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that
six people had been killed and 43 wounded in Sarajevo on this
date. *1749
Source(s): BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
According to UN officials, a Danish UN armoured
personnel carrier came under mortar fire near the Sarajevo
airport. Eight rounds exploded around the vehicle, the closest
approximately 20 yards away. There were no casualties. It was
not known whether the mortar attack had been launched by BiH
troops or Serbian forces. *1750
Sporadic artillery fire from hilltop Serbian positions
was directed to the city's Old Town, while heavier shell blasts
crashed in southern neighbourhoods. After dark, a succession of
large-caliber shells exploded in the district close to the BiH
Presidency building. *1751
(b) Local reported events
30. 30/12/92 (Wednesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Sporadic bursts of machine-gun and
small-arms fire were heard from the Holiday Inn overnight, with
occasional mortar bombs landing in the city centre and Old Town
areas. West of the centre, BiH shelling of Ilidza was reported.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- The city centre; the Old Town; Ilidza.
Source(s):
Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- At a home for the elderly in Nedzarici, a 78
year-old resident, Ilija Pejcin Ovic, was hit in the head by a
sniper's bullet while chopping wood outside the front door.
Source(s): New York Times.
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that six
people had been killed and 37 injured in Sarajevo on this date.
*1755
Source(s): BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
On the coldest morning of the winter (minus 11
degrees), BiH fighters gathered on the strategic Mount Igman
overlooking the city from the
south. *1756 UN intelligence reports estimated that as many as
10,000 men of the Muslim-led BiH forces had amassed, and appeared
to be preparing to attack Serbian-held suburbs that were a key to
maintaining the siege. *1757
Sporadic bursts of machine-gun and small-arms fire were
audible from the Holiday Inn overnight, with occasional mortar
bombs landing in the central city and Old Town areas. *1758
West of the centre, Bosnian Serb forces reported
renewed Muslim shelling of the suburb of Ilidza. *1759
The New York Times Reported that at the home for the
elderly in Nedzarici, Gordana Simic, a 71 year-old resident died
overnight, and Ilija Pejcin Ovic, 78 was hit in the head by a
sniper's bullet while chopping wood outside the front door. He
was the 17th resident to die from war
wounds. *1760
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
31. 31/12/92 (Thursday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The BiH Government forces were
again reported to be gathering on a mountain south-west of the
city in a possible attempt to break the siege of the city.
Source(s): New York Times.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that four
people had been killed and eight injured in Sarajevo on this
date. *1765
Source(s): BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
The Muslim-led forces of the BiH Government were again
reported to be massing on a mountain south-west of the city in
preparation for a possible attempt to break through the siege
lines around the city. *1766 UN military experts who had
examined the situation concluded that the BiH offensive seemed
likely to fail. But they also said that the Serbian forces may
have been overextended. *1767
(b) Local reported events
UN Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali said at the Split
airport that he was going to Sarajevo to express solidarity with
the population of the city and its suffering and to wish the
UNPROFOR units there a happy new year. *1768
Boutros-Ghali then paid a New Year's Eve visit to
Sarajevo. He was met by protesters and a senior BiH official,
Vice President Ejup Ganic. *1769 The protesters shouted, «Ghali,
Hitler; Ghali, fascist» when he appeared in front of the
Presidency building after talks at the UNPROFOR headquarters.
*1770
In a New Year's message to the citizens of BiH,
President Izetbegovic said that, «These negotiations were forced
upon us, just as this war was forced upon us. We will not,
however, accept peace being forced upon
us». *1771
UNPROFOR reported that during the month of December
there were over 6700 attempted airport crossings. UNPROFOR
commented that this continued to place a heavy strain on the
troops who had to intercept, disarm and send back those persons
attempting to cross the airfield. It was also reported that
during the month of December 24 UNPROFOR flights and 173 UNHCR
flights had landed at the airport. *1772
J. January 1993
1. 1/1/93 (Friday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Intense fighting erupted in the
streets with BiH and Serbian forces trading artillery, anti-
aircraft and heavy machine-gun fire in close range battles on
several fronts around the capital. Nearly constant mortar and
artillery explosions and heavy gunfire could be heard from
various parts of the city during the afternoon.
Source(s): Agence
France Presse.
- Targets Hit :
- Various unidentified sections of Sarajevo.
Source(s): Agence France Presse.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Three people were reported dead and 26 wounded by
the city morgue and hospital. *1773 The BiH Health Ministry
Reported that two people were killed and 16 injured on this day.
*1774
Source(s): Agence France Presse; BiH Ministry of Public
Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Intense fighting erupted in the streets with BiH forces
and Serbs trading artillery, anti-aircraft and heavy machine-gun
fire in close range battles on several fronts around the capital.
Nearly constant mortar and artillery explosions and heavy gunfire
could be heard from various parts of the city during the
afternoon. There was no sign of tanks or armoured vehicles being
used in the fighting which involved the Serb-held neighbourhoods
of Grbavica, Vraca and Staro Brdo, and the BiH-controlled areas
of Kovacici, Skenderija and Cicin Han. The fighting eased in
intensity with nightfall and the accompanying drop in temperature
which by nightfall had already fallen to 12 degrees Fahrenheit.
*1775
(b) Local reported events
2. 2/1/93 (Saturday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The city was described as
generally quiet. UN monitors reported 32 large-caliber shells
incoming on Serbian positions around the city and 10 mortar and
five artillery rounds landing in BiH government-controlled parts
of the city. *1777
Source(s): Reuters; United Press
International.
- Targets Hit :
- Hrasno hill; the edges of Stari Grad (early
afternoon).
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Three civilians were wounded by snipers in the
previous 24 hours.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported four people
killed and 26 wounded on this day. *1778
Source(s): BiH Public
Health Ministry.
- Narrative of Events :
-
The city was described as «generally quiet», with three
civilians wounded by snipers in the previous 24 hours. Three
shells hit Hrasno hill west of the centre and several others hit
the edges of the central municipality of Stari Grad in the early
afternoon. *1779 Sporadic small-arms, machine-gun and mortar
fire could be heard overnight, but nothing
sustained. *1780
(b) International reported events
The peace conference co-chairmen, on 2-4 January
convened the Summit Meeting on Bosnia-Hercegovina in Geneva with
representatives of the BiH Presidency, Bosnian Croats, Bosnian
Serbs, Croatia and Yugoslavia. *1781
Leaders of BiH's warring Muslims, Croats and Serbs met
for their first face-to face peace talks since fighting erupted
nine months ago. The talks, between President Alija Izetbegovic,
Croat leader Mate Boban, and Radovan Karadzic were held in
Geneva. *1782 Under a proposal to redraw the Republic, Sarajevo
would be demilitarized and the new provinces would be «areas as
geographically coherent as possible, taking into account ethnic,
geographical, historical, communication, economic viability and
other relevant
factors». *1783
Bosnian Serb leader Karadzic stated that he would «stay
as long as necessary» to achieve a peace settlement, but also
refused to relinquish what he called «Serb lands» in BiH. *1784
3. 3/1/93 (Sunday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Fighting was reported light with
sporadic artillery and small-arms fire in parts of the city
during the day.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- BiH health officials said that one person was killed
and eight were wounded in Sarajevo in the 24 hour period that
ended at 10:00 a.m. Sunday. *1785
Source(s): United Press
International.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Fighting was reported light with sporadic artillery and
small-arms fire in parts of the city during the day. *1786
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
Presidents Tudjman and Cosic, and the two working
groups for military and political affairs met. The plenary
session of the peace conference started at 5:00 p.m.. *1788
BiH President Izetbegovic and Bosnian Serb leader
Radovan Karadzic met and gave conflicting reports on the
substance of their talks. This marked the first time that the
pair had met since the war began. Vance reported that an
agreement could only be reached on seven of the proposed
provinces. The major obstacle was reportedly the Serb insistence
on a separate Serb state within BiH. Izetbegovic objected to
some of the province boundaries. *1789
4. 4/1/93 (Monday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- BiH forces reportedly attacked
again to try to join up Butmir and Azici. Supporting attacks
occurred against Hadzici and Ilijas. There were also attacks
against Rajlovac and Vogosca. The Serb forces counter-attacked
and pushed the Presidency forces further towards Stup Bridge. The
Hadzici and Ilijas attacks reportedly failed, while the Vogosca
and Rajlovac attacks gained some ground.
Source(s): UNPROFOR.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry Bulletin reported one
person killed and 15 wounded on this day. *1790
Source(s): BiH
Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
BiH forces attacked again to try and join up Butmir and
Azici. Supporting attacks occurred against Hadzici and Ilijas.
There were also attacks against Rajlovac and Vogosca. The method
of operation was very similar to the first attack in December
1992. The Serbs counter-attacked and this time pushed the
Presidency forces further towards Stup Bridge. The Hadzici and
Ilijas attacks failed. The Vogosca and Rajlovac attacks were
successful and the Presidency captured some ground. *1791
(b) International reported events
5. 5/1/93 (Tuesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Not specified
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that two
people were killed and 22 wounded on this day. *1793
Source(s):
BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
No reported incidents.
(b) Local reported events
6. 6/1/93 (Wednesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The city was reported quiet in the
early hours as Serbs began preparing for the Orthodox Christmas.
Fighting erupted late in the day and intense shelling was
reported in the Novi Grad district with over 50 shells reported
to have hit Stari Grad late in the afternoon and evening.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- The Novi Grad area; Stari Grad (over 50 shells
reported in the afternoon and evening); the Hrasno district.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that two
people were killed and 20 wounded on this day. *1795
Source(s):
BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
The city had been quiet as Serbs began preparing to
celebrate the Serb Orthodox Christmas. Sarajevo radio said heavy
guns opened fire during the night around the Parliament building
south-west of the city centre and that there was sporadic small-
arms fire in the same area. *1796
Sarajevo radio reported intense shelling of the Novi
Grad district. Over 50 shells were reported to have fallen on
Stari Grad late in the afternoon and evening. It said that the
Hrasno district was shelled by mortars, tanks and anti-aircraft
fire. Street fighting was also reported in the Dobrinja and
Vojnicko Polje districts.
(b) Local reported events
Fighting occurred late in the day shortly after
Yugoslav President Dobrica Cosic warned Bosnian Serbs that «if
the Serbs in Bosnia do not accept the stipulated constitutional
principles of the new state of Bosnia, then--we are told directly-
-they will soon be the target of a war and missile attack by US
and NATO troops». *1797
The co-chairmen reportedly tried to pressure Serbian
President Milosevic to do all that he could to convince Bosnian
Serb leader Karadzic to accept the Vance-Owen Plan. Milosevic
responded, «Peace is in our vital interest. I will do everything
in my power». *1798 Vance said that negotiations were at «an
absolutely historic moment». *1799
7. 7/1/93 (Thursday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Not specified
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that two
people were killed and 25 wounded on this day. *1800
Source(s):
BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
No reported incidents.
(b) Local reported events
8. 8/1/93 (Friday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Not specified
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that three
people were killed and 28 wounded on this day. *1802
Source(s):
BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Hakija Turajlic, one of the three deputy prime
ministers of the BiH Government, was killed as he sat inside an
armoured personnel carrier belonging to the French Marine
Battalion assigned to the United Nations forces. The vehicle,
bearing the UN flag and insignia, was halted about 200 yards from
the Sarajevo airport exit gate by two Serbian tanks and a force
of about 30 to 40 soldiers. A confrontation lasting one hour and
45 minutes ensued, which ended with a Serbian soldier thrusting
his automatic weapon over French Officer, Colonel Parice Sartre,
and firing at Turajlic through the vehicle's open rear door. The
French soldiers did not return fire. General Morillon of the UN
forces named the officer commanding the Serbian troops who
carried out the killing as General Stanislav Galic. *1803
(b) International reported events
9. 9/1/93 (Saturday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UN monitors said that 68 shells
landed on Serbian positions around Sarajevo, compared to 172
shell explosions in BiH-controlled parts of the city. *1806
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- A French C-160 transport aeroplane carrying
humanitarian aid at Sarajevo airport (by small-arms fire).
Source(s): United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- A French C-160 transport aeroplane
carrying humanitarian aid was hit in the tail by small-arms fire
at Sarajevo airport, but was not seriously damaged.
Source(s):
United Press International.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that two
people were killed and 34 wounded on this day. *1807
Source(s):
BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
A French C-160 transport aeroplane carrying
humanitarian aid was hit in the tail by small-arms fire as it
landed at Sarajevo airport at 3:30 p.m.. The aeroplane was not
seriously damaged and no one was injured in the incident. *1808
The level of fighting following Hakija Turajlic's death
showed a slight increase. UN monitors said that 68 shells landed
on Serbian positions around Sarajevo, compared to 172 shell
explosions in BiH-controlled parts of the city. *1809
(b) International reported events
10. 10/1/93 (Sunday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The city experienced a lull in the
fighting. Sporadic firing was heard in the city overnight.
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that two
people were killed and six wounded on this day. *1812
Source(s):
BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
The city experienced a lull in fighting as
international mediators prepared for talks in Geneva. Only
sporadic firing was heard in the city overnight. *1813
(b) International reported events
11. 11/1/93 (Monday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- There was stepped-up arms fire and
shelling in the city, with heavy shelling beginning in the
morning. UNPROFOR reported more than 1300 incoming shells in the
city. *1815 UNPROFOR reported that during the past week the city
was quiet for the most part, with a low level of mortar/artillery
shelling, which increased slightly towards the end of the week.
It was also noted that BiH forces launched attacks on several
areas outside of the city. The main areas concerned were in the
northern part of Sarajevo: Rajlovac, Zuc Mountain, Vogosca and
Vasin Han. Ilidza, Butmir and Lukavica also received some
shelling. It was also reported that during the week, BiH forces
attacked Serb positions on Vogosca and Zuc Mountain, where they
had gained 300-600 metres of ground. BiH forces also attacked
Ilijas from Visoko and Breza, but were repulsed by Serbs who kept
Visoko under heavy artillery fire over two days. Serbs were also
attacked in Hadzici from Mount Igman during 6-7 January. UNPROFOR
commented that in spite of a concentration of troops on Mt.
Igman, no specific movements or activities had been detected in
Butmir, Sokolovici or Hrasnica, which could indicate any
immediate action against the city. UNPROFOR stated that it
thought that the Serbs did not believe that the BiH forces had
the strength to capture Ilidza. *1816
Source(s): UNPROFOR;
Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- The Parliament building; the Vrbanja bridge; the
national museum; buildings overlooking the Miljacka river.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported one person
killed and 26 wounded on this day. *1817
Source(s): BiH Ministry
of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
There were reports of stepped-up arms fire and shelling
in the centre of the city. Firing was reported at the Parliament
building, the Vrbanja bridge, the national museum and buildings
overlooking the Miljacka river dividing Serb and Muslim lines.
Heavy firing in the city began in the early morning. Three or
four artillery rounds per minute, a high rate for recent weeks,
could be heard from the city centre, accompanied by mortar and
machine-gun
fire. *1818
(b) Local reported events
UNPROFOR reported that during the last week the number
of people attempting to cross the airport during the night
continued to be very high (over 300 increasing to 600 at the end
of the week). UNPROFOR commented that the reason for this could
be found in the low levels of shelling at the airport and also on
the poor living conditions in the city after four weeks without
water or electricity. *1819
(c) International reported events
12. 12/1/93 (Tuesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- There were reports of increased
small-arms fire and shelling in the centre of the city.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- The city centre.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that four
people were killed and 50 wounded on this day. *1822
Source(s):
BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
There were reports of increased small-arms fire and
shelling in the centre of the city. *1823 Fighting was active in
Hrasno and in the Vrbanja bridge area behind the old parliament
building, just west of the city
centre. *1824
(b) International reported events
According to Tanjug, the co-chairmen met with Radovan
Karadzic and members of the Yugoslav delegation at the Geneva
Hotel `Berg' in the morning and announced that they were no
longer optimistic regarding the outcome of negotiations. *1825
According to Serbian press reports, after a two hour
meeting late in the afternoon with the co-chairmen, Cosic,
Milosevic, Bulatovic and Karadzic, the Yugoslav delegation issued
the following statement:
«Proceeding from the interests of the Serbian people for a
peaceful solution to the crisis in Bosnia-Hercegovina, at
the insistence of Presidents Cosic, Milosevic and Bulatovic,
based primarily on the fact that the proposed principles
guarantee full equality to the Serbian people, as well as
the consensus of the three peoples of Bosnia-Hercegovina . .
. . Radovan Karadzic decided to agree with the proposed
constitutional principles, provided that the Assembly of the
Serbian Republic approves them within seven days». *1826
Observers speculated that Serbian President Milosevic
and Yugoslav President Cosic pressured Karadzic into acceptance.
There were still disagreements over the plan's boundaries. Many
in the West believed Karadzic's acceptance was only a tactical
move designed to stave off Western attacks while Serb forces
acquired more territory. *1827
13. 13/1/93 (Wednesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Anti-aircraft guns fired into the
Old Town district throughout the night and shelling continued in
Hrasno to the west.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- The Old Town; Hrasno.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The city's crisis centre said that four people were
killed and 54 wounded in the city in the past 24 hours. *1828 The
BiH Public Health Ministry reported that eight people were killed
and 48 wounded on this day. *1829
Source(s): Reuters; BiH
Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sarajevo radio said that anti-aircraft guns fired into
the historic Old Town throughout the night and it reported
continued shelling of the western suburb of Hrasno. *1830
(b) Local reported events
14. 14/1/93 (Thursday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Heavy tank and mortar fire hit the
centre of the city, with the firing heaviest around midnight, as
Serbs celebrated the Orthodox New Year. There was continuous
small-arms, machine-gun, mortar and tank fire reported.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- The city centre; the area between the Parliament
tower in the city centre and the Hrasno area; the residential
area near the Parliament building (Six mortar rounds between 3:20
a.m. and 5:00 a.m.); Hrasno and Hrasno Brdo (overnight); the Old
Town (sporadically and in the afternoon) and Dobrinja
(sporadically); a market close to the Sarajevo market close to
the residence of French General Phillipe Morillon.
Source(s):
Reuters; United Press International.
- Description of Damage :
- A woman was killed when a shell exploded
at a market close to the Sarajevo residence of French General
Phillipe Morillon. The Kosevo Hospital admitted 22 casualties
wounded by the shelling.
Source(s): Reuters; United Press
International.
- Sniping Activity :
- Four people were reported wounded by snipers in
a residential district west of the Old Town.
Source(s): United
Press International.
- Casualties :
- One six year-old girl was brought to the Kosevo
Hospital in the evening with shrapnel wounds, and died
thereafter. A woman was killed when a shell exploded at a market
close to the Sarajevo residence of French General Phillipe
Morillon. The Kosevo Hospital admitted 22 casualties wounded by
the shelling. Four people were reported wounded by snipers in a
residential district west of the Old Town and the Old Town itself
came under artillery fire in the late afternoon. *1832 The BiH
Public Health Ministry reported that four people were killed, and
40 were wounded on this day. *1833
Source(s): United Press
International; BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Heavy tank and mortar fire hit the centre of the city
with the firing heaviest around midnight as Serbs celebrated the
Orthodox New Year. Residents said on Thursday that there was
continuous small-arms, machine-gun, mortar and tank fire between
the destroyed Parliament tower in the centre of the city and the
neighbourhood of Hrasno, about two kilometres west along the
Miljacka river. BiH government forces and Serbs faced each other
across narrow city streets in the area and several Serb tanks
were stationed in Grbavica, a neighbourhood between the
Parliament tower and Hrasno. Heavy mortar and machine-gun fire
poured into the area behind the tower, where the Vrbana bridge
crossed the river. Sporadic shooting continued throughout the
night and machine-gun and small-arms fire were still audible at
dawn. *1834
Radio Sarajevo said that six mortar rounds fell on the
residential area around the Parliament building between 3:20 a.m.
and 5:00 a.m. It reported shelling on Hrasno and Hrasno Brdo
overnight, and said the Old Town and Dobrinja were shelled
sporadically. *1835
One six year-old girl was brought to the Kosevo
Hospital in the evening with shrapnel wounds, and died
thereafter. A woman was killed when a shell exploded at a market
close to the Sarajevo residence of French General Phillipe
Morillon. The Kosevo Hospital admitted 22 casualties wounded by
the shelling. Four people were reported wounded by snipers in a
residential district west of the Old Town and the Old Town itself
came under artillery fire in the late afternoon. *1836
(b) International reported events
15. 15/1/93 (Friday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Shells hit a crowd queuing for
spring water outside a brewery, the Kosevo Hospital and the area
near the Presidency building.
Source(s): United Press
International; Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- A wall, about five yards above a crowd queuing for
spring water outside a city brewery; the Kosevo Hospital Complex;
the area near the Presidency building in the city centre.
Source(s): United Press International; Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- A single artillery shell killed seven
people and wounded 18 as 300 people queued for spring water
outside a city brewery. An artillery shell struck at about 1:45
p.m., into a wall about five yards above the crowd, releasing
shrapnel. As the dead and wounded from the brewery attack were
being carried into the Kosevo emergency room, an artillery shell
hit the clinic and destroyed several rooms. One woman was
reported killed and four others injured in the morning when an
artillery shell landed near the Presidency building in the city
centre.
Source(s): United Press International; Reuters.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- A single artillery shell killed seven people and
wounded 18 as they queued for spring water outside a city
brewery; one woman was reported killed and four others injured in
the morning when an artillery shell landed near the Presidency
building in the city centre. *1838 The BiH Public Health Ministry
reported that nine people were killed and 35 wounded on this
day. *1839
Source(s): United Press International; Reuters; BiH
Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
A single artillery shell killed seven people and
wounded 18 as they queued for spring water outside a brewery.
Police and witnesses said that some 300 people were waiting
behind the city brewery to fill containers from a natural spring
amid a more than month-long disruption of the municipal water
system. A Serbian artillery shell blasted at about 1:45 p.m.,
into a wall about five yards above the crowd, releasing shrapnel.
With most males of military age serving in the BiH army, the vast
majority of people who usually waited to collect water at
distribution points were women and the
elderly. *1840
Among those struck were an entire family. Asim Lacevic
and his wife were killed instantly. Their eight year-old son
Berin was in critical condition with head and leg injuries, and
their daughter Dalila received a serious chest wound. It was
reported that lines of people, sometimes several hundred long,
formed day and night as the spring-fed brewery, long closed for
beer production, was the city's most popular spot for drawing
water. *1841
As the dead and wounded from the brewery attack were
being carried into the Kosevo emergency room, an artillery shell
hit the clinic and destroyed several rooms. There were no
casualties in the attack. *1842
(b) Local reported events
Electricity was briefly reconnected in some areas of
the city in the evening, but failed again after several hours.
Municipal officials said they expected power to be restored some
time on Saturday. It was reported that the city had been without
electricity for more than a month. *1843
16. 16/1/93 (Saturday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The city witnessed sporadic
shellfire. UN monitors said that 54 artillery, 50 mortar and
five tank shells landed on Serb-controlled positions around the
city compared to 51 artillery, 174 mortar and 13 tanks shells
landing on parts of the city controlled by the BiH government.
*1844
Source(s): United Press International.
- Targets Hit :
- The Sarajevo airport.
Source(s): UNPROFOR.
- Description of Damage :
- The Sarajevo airport was shelled from BiH
positions in Hrasnica, injuring three French UNPROFOR soldiers.
Source(s): UNPROFOR.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Ministry of Public Health reported that 14
people were killed and 44 wounded on this day. *1845
Source(s):
BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sarajevo airport was closed for just over 30 minutes
because of fighting between Serbian and BiH forces on the road
linking the facility with downtown Sarajevo. The road and the
airport were reopened at about 3:30 p.m. The incident came
several hours after French Health Minister Bernard Couchner
arrived on a visit to review conditions in the city. *1846
UNPROFOR reported that the airport was shelled from the
BiH positions in Hrasnica. Three French UNPROFOR soldiers were
slightly injured. *1847
Sarajevo witnessed sporadic shellfire and small-arms
exchanges. One man was reported killed and six people wounded in
a single shell explosion in the Muslim-dominated Old Town. *1848
(b) Local reported events
17. 17/1/93 (Sunday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UNPROFOR reported that during the
past week there was a moderate level of shelling in the city, but
in general, it was higher than the week before. Shelling was
particularly high on 11 January with more than 1,300 incoming
rounds reported. The number of people attempting to cross the
airport was over 300 on most nights. UNPROFOR noted that BiH
forces seemed to be employing a new tactic to help them cross the
runway, i.e., as the APCs moved in to stop the detected
individuals, they completely surrounded the vehicles, allowing
others to cross during the confusion. UNPROFOR commented that the
number of people attempting to cross the airport seemed to be
related to the level of military activity in the city and
particularly the airport. The level of shelling rose to some 1300
incoming rounds on 11 January and remained at over 300 through
the week. In relation to this, UNPROFOR noted that the number of
people attempting to cross the airport at the end of the weekend
was over 500, which decreased to some 300 during the past week.
*1851 Sarajevo radio reported the shelling of the edge of the Old
Town during the night and anti-aircraft machine-gun fire in the
city centre.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- The edge of the Old Town (in the evening); the city
centre.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported that three
people were killed and 25 wounded on this day. *1852 It also
reported: 8,155 people killed, missing, or dead from cold or
hunger; 47,573 wounded; and 14,285 heavily wounded in Sarajevo to
date. *1853
Source(s): BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sarajevo Radio reported the shelling of the edge of the
Old Town during the night and anti-aircraft machine-gun fire in
the central city area. Machine-gun and small-arms fire was heard
from Hrasno and Grbavica districts, where BiH government and Serb
forces had been squared off. *1854
(b) Local reported events
18. 18/1/93 (Monday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- A «relative lull» in the fighting
was reported in the city as fighting continued elsewhere in the
Republic. *1857
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported 18 wounded.
No deaths were reported on this day. *1858
Source(s): BiH
Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
A «relative lull» in the fighting was reported in the
city as fighting continued elsewhere in the Republic. *1859
19. 19/1/93 (Tuesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Sporadic shelling of Sarajevo was
reported while violence was reported elsewhere in the Republic.
*1860
Source(s): UNPROFOR.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- UNPROFOR reported that a monitoring officer
had been shot by a sniper, resulting in minor injuries. Sniper
fire also damaged a
French *1861 battalion truck near the airport. *1862
Source(s):
UNPROFOR.
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported one person
killed and 16 wounded on this day. *1863
Source(s): BiH Ministry
of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sporadic shelling of Sarajevo was reported while
violence was reported elsewhere in the Republic. *1864
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
The annual US State Department Human Rights Report
described «ethnic cleansing» that «dwarfs anything seen in Europe
since Nazi times». It said that Muslim and Croat atrocities «pale
in comparison» to those committed by Serbs, and it estimated that
25,000 people had died and 1.5 million (including half of the
Muslim population) had become refugees as a result of the war in
BiH. *1867
20. 20/1/93 (Wednesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Not specified
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported four people
killed and 27 wounded on this day. *1868
Source(s): BiH Ministry
of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
No reported incidents.
(b) Local reported events
Cyrus Vance and Lord David Owen, the co-chairmen of the
UN-EC sponsored peace talks in Geneva paid a one-day visit to the
city to broker a truce agreement between the BiH President Alija
Izetbegovic and senior Croatian ministers.
The Bosnian Serb parliament endorsed a set of
constitutional principles for the future arrangements in BiH as
proposed at the Geneva negotiations. At the session in Pale, at
approximately 2:00, 55 deputies voted for the Geneva proposals,
15 voted against, and there was one abstention. *1869
Kemal Muftic, an adviser to BiH President Izetbegovic,
doubted that the Bosnian Serb Assembly's approval would translate
into peace, because that would mean «the rejection of everything
they have done . . . and they have committed a lot of atrocities
in the name of a concept they are now rejecting». *1870
21. 21/1/93 (Thursday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UN military observers said that
they saw 157 shells fall on Muslim positions around the city,
compared with eight falling on Serb sites. *1871
Source(s):
Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- Dobrinja; Vogosca; Stup.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported four killed
and 22 wounded on this day. *1872
Source(s): BiH Ministry of
Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
During the evening, machine-gun fire was reported on
the edge of the Old Town, along with machine-gun fire and mortar
bombs in the suburbs of Dobrinja near the airport and Vogosca,
north-west of the city. Shelling was reported somewhat heavier
in Stup, to the west of the city. *1873
(b) Local reported events
22. 22/1/93 (Friday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Heavy shelling of the Old Town area
was reported in the morning as BiH forces were reported to have
launched an artillery and infantry attack on Serb army positions
on the road between Sarajevo and Pale.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- the Old Town (morning); Serb positions on the road
between Sarajevo and Pale; Hrasno.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Sniper fire was reported as intensifying in
parts of the city other than the Old Town section. *1875
Source(s): Reuters.
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported one person
killed and nine wounded on this day. *1876
Source(s): BiH
Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Tanjug news agency said that BiH fighters launched an
artillery and infantry attack on Serb army positions on the road
between Sarajevo and the Bosnian Serb headquarters at Pale. *1877
Radio Sarajevo reported heavy morning shelling of the
old centre of the city.
(b) International reported events
US Secretary of State Christopher stated that he
doubted that the international mediation effort to end the
fighting in BiH would succeed, because the atrocities had been
«so horrible» and because the Bosnian Serbs had such a poor track
record for keeping promises. *1878
23. 23/1/93 (Saturday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- After an upsurge of fire in the
southern suburbs on Friday evening, especially around Hrasno, it
was quiet overnight, followed by intermittent light arms fire in
the Hrasno-Grbavica sector.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- Hrasno (overnight); the Hrasno-Grbavica sector
(early morning).
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Ministry of Public Health reported one
person killed and 20 wounded on this day. *1879
Source(s): BiH
Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
After an upsurge of fire in the southern suburbs on
Friday evening, especially around Hrasno, it was quiet overnight
over most of the city. It was reported that only two shells hit
Hrasno during the night, but early morning brought intermittent
light arms fire in the Hrasno-Grbavica
sector. *1880
(b) International reported events
24. 24/1/93 (Sunday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- There was continuous overnight
shelling of Dobrinja and anti-aircraft gunfire on the edge of the
Old Town.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- Dobrinja (overnight); the edges of the Old Town; the
area west of the city centre.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- BiH health officials said that four people were
killed and 27 were injured in Sarajevo in the 24 hour period
ending at 10:00 a.m. *1882 The BiH Public Health Ministry
reported: 8170 killed, missing, or dead from cold or hunger;
47,712 wounded; and 14,380 heavily wounded to date. *1883
Source(s): Reuters; BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
There was continuous overnight shelling in the western
suburb of Dobrinja. Anti-aircraft guns were reported to be
firing on the edges of the Old Town, as well as small-arms fire
in Hrasno, the BiH controlled suburb to the south-west. The
morning began with occasional shots and explosions to the west of
the city centre. *1884
(b) International reported events
International mediators in Geneva admitted that current
fighting in Croatia had hindered progress in the peace talks, but
said that Yugoslav President Cosic and Bosnian Serb leader
Karadzic had promised not to interfere. Serbian President
Milosevic commented on the recent Croat attack, assailing:
«masters of war» for «trying now, when peace is reachable, to
burn a new war». The sharpest disagreements at the talks
surrounded the three proposed provinces in eastern BiH along the
Serbia-BiH border. *1885
25. 25/1/93 (Monday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UNPROFOR monitors observed that no
rounds hit Serb-controlled areas, while 37 fell in parts of
Sarajevo defended by the BiH Army. *1886 UNPROFOR reported that
during the past week, the level of shelling had decreased. The
areas of concentrated shelling were; Butmir, Ilidza, Kasindolska,
Nedzarici, Dobrinja, Kotorac and the airport. Some shelling was
also reported at Kosevo, Brajkova, Bistrik, the Presidency,
Marsal Tito Barracks and Hrasno. *1887
Source(s): UNPROFOR.
- Targets Hit :
- The area near the UNHCR warehouse in New Sarajevo;
the Old Town area; the area near the Parliament building; the
«backroad» behind housing blocks and warehouses.
Source(s): Press
Association.
- Description of Damage :
- A shell explosion near the UNHCR warehouse
in Sarajevo killed four people and injured several others; at
10:08 a.m. an 82 millimetre mortar shell landed on the «back
road», a route twisting through housing blocks and warehouses
from the centre of the city.
Source(s): Press Association.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported five people
killed and 23 wounded on this day. *1888
Source(s): BiH Ministry
of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Serbian forces fired artillery, tank and anti-aircraft
fire into the city during the morning. A shell explosion near
the UN High Commission for Refugees warehouse in New Sarajevo
killed four people and injured several others. One person was
killed and another wounded in the Muslim-dominated Old Town. UN
monitors reported exchanges of heavy machine-gun fire between
Muslim and Serb forces. *1889
In the morning, a shell was reported to have landed
near the city's Parliament building before daybreak. *1890
The day was described as clear and sunny, and at 10:00
a.m. despite the shelling, people walked through the streets to
equip their children for schools that were to open for the first
time since April. At 10:08 a.m. an 82 millimetre mortar shell
landed on the «back road», a route twisting through housing
blocks and warehouses from the centre of the city (the route was
reportedly preferable to «snipers alley»). *1891
(b) International reported events
BiH President Izetbegovic said that the peace talks had
made no headway and that he might withdraw if there was no
progress in the coming days. He told a news conference that the
five-month-old talks had «betrayed» the principle of refusing to
legitimize gains made by the ethnic cleansing campaign waged by
Bosnian Serbs. «We are remaining at the negotiations as long as
we see the conference may help calm the situation in BiH and we
can achieve the aims we are talking about», he said. *1892
Progress was reported to have been made in Geneva on
the Vance-Owen boundary disputes. Croats and Muslims claimed that
they had agreed on the central region's borders north-west of
Sarajevo. BiH President Izetbegovic reportedly made a concession
by renouncing his state's claims to a corridor running along the
edges of the Republic to the north, south-east and
south-west. *1893
26. 26/1/93 (Tuesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- The city passed a quiet night
before shelling began around the edge of the Old Town at dawn and
two detonations were heard in the Hrasno area.
Source(s):
Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- The edge of the Old Town (dawn); the Hrasno area.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported six killed
and 31 wounded on this day. *1894
Source(s): BiH Ministry of
Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
The city passed a quiet night before shelling began
around the edge of the Old Town at dawn and two detonations were
heard in the Hrasno area. *1895
(b) International reported events
27. 27/1/93 (Wednesday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- UNPROFOR reported that between
8:00 p.m. on Tuesday and noon Wednesday, 161 shells had fallen on
government-controlled areas of the city, activity UNPROFOR
described as «slightly heavier than normal». *1897 Later on
Wednesday the shelling intensified into some of the heaviest in
weeks. UN officials said that some 1,000 shells fell on
government-controlled areas of the city in the 24 hours up to
midnight on Wednesday, with around 100 shells falling on Serb
areas. *1898 In a subsequent report, UNPROFOR reported that it
observed some 1,500 incoming rounds, some of them falling around
the airport, where a UNHCR representative was severely injured.
Other shelling was reported over the eastern part of the city.
*1899
Source(s): UNPROFOR.
- Targets Hit :
- A bridge located 200 metres from UNPROFOR
headquarters; Dobrinja; Novi Grad; Novo Sarajevo; Mojmilo; Cengic
Vila; Hrasno; Hrasno Brdo; Vogosca; the airport area.
Source(s):
United Press International; Reuters; UNPROFOR.
- Description of Damage :
- One 120 millimetre mortar round fired from
Rajlovac landed by a bridge 200 metres from UNPROFOR
headquarters, killing four people and injuring several others
waiting outside the headquarters.
Source(s): United Press
International; Reuters; UNPROFOR.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Four people were killed and several others injured in
the shelling of the area outside UNPROFOR headquarters; two dead
and four injured were brought to the Kosevo Hospital after being
caught in a heavy artillery attack; the city's two main hospitals
reported treating at least 51 people for wounds. Doctors said
that a number of those victims were children. *1900 The BiH
Public Health Ministry reported four killed and 53 wounded on
this day. *1901
Source(s): Reuters; United Press International;
BiH Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
After what was described by UNPROFOR as one of the
calmest days of the war, Serbian artillery units fired into the
city, with one 120 millimetre mortar round fired from the north-
west Serb suburb Rajlovac landing by a bridge just 200 metres
from UNPROFOR Headquarters, killing four people and injuring
several others as they waited outside the city's UN headquarters.
Serb artillery fire hit at random across the city. According to
officials, the heaviest fire was directed against the residential
neighbourhood of Dobrinja on the western edge of the city.
Journalists said that two dead and four wounded were also brought
to the Kosevo Hospital after being caught in a heavy artillery
attack. *1902
The bombardment began at dawn when artillery, tanks and
multiple-rocket launchers hit the New Town areas of Novi Grad and
Novo Sarajevo. Explosions could still be held in western
Sarajevo in the early afternoon. Sarajevo radio reported heavy
bombardment in the districts of Dobrinja, Mojmilo, Cengic Vila,
Hrasno, Hrasno Brdo and Vogosca starting early in the morning.
*1903
(b) International reported events
28. 28/1/93 (Thursday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Not specified
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported 24 killed
and 108 wounded on this day. *1905
Source(s): BiH Ministry of
Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
No incidents reported.
29. 29/1/93 (Friday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Sarajevo experienced a quiet night,
with shelling resuming at dawn in the Old Town area and
continuing throughout the day in several areas.
Source(s):
Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- Old Town area of the city; other unidentified areas;
an unidentified hospital.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Description of Damage :
- One shell was reported to have hit an
unidentified hospital and passed through several walls before
landing in a ward without exploding.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- The BiH Public Health Ministry reported five killed
and 25 wounded on this day. *1906
Source(s): BiH Ministry of
Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
The city was reported to have enjoyed a quiet night,
with shelling resuming at dawn in the Old Town area and
continuing throughout the day in several areas. One shell was
reported to have hit a hospital and passed through several walls
before landing in a ward without exploding. *1907
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
Peace conference co-chairmen Vance and Owen proposed
that an interim, nine member council (with three representatives
from each of the three main sides) rule BiH until free elections
could be held. The group would assume control as soon as all
three sides signed the Vance-Owen Plan and the Sarajevo
Government would be set up along similar lines. BiH officials
were reportedly unreceptive to this plan. *1909
30. 30/1/93 (Saturday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- Shelling was reported in the Stari
Grad area, near the Presidency building, the Kosevo Hospital and
the Ilidza area. A number of civilian casualties were reported.
Source(s): Reuters; New York Times; Helsinki Watch; BiH Ministry
of Public Health.
- Targets Hit :
- The Stari Grad area; the area near the Presidency
building; the Kosevo Hospital; the Ilidza area.
Source(s):
Reuters; New York Times; Helsinki Watch.
- Description of Damage :
- Two people were killed and 47 wounded in
shelling which was particularly fierce in the Stari Grad area; at
least six people were killed and 20 wounded in a major explosion
near the Presidency building (all but two of these victims were
civilian passers-by); Dr. Vladimir Belinki was decapitated when
he was struck by a 40 millimetre anti-aircraft shell at the
Kosevo Hospital; two Bosnian Serb journalists were killed in a
BiH artillery attack on Ilidza.
Source(s): Reuters; New York
Times; Helsinki Watch.
- Sniping Activity :
- Not specified
- Casualties :
- Two people were killed and 47 wounded in shelling
which was particularly fierce in the Stari Grad area; at least
six people were killed and 20 wounded in a major explosion near
the Presidency building (all but two of these victims were
civilian passers-by); Dr. Vladimir Belinki was decapitated when
he was struck by a 40 millimetre anti-aircraft shell at the
Kosevo Hospital; two Bosnian Serb journalists were killed in a
BiH artillery attack on Ilidza. Twenty people were reported
killed and 30 wounded in heavy shelling. *1910 The BiH Public
Health Ministry reported eight killed and 48 wounded on this day.
*1911
Source(s): Reuters; New York Times; Helsinki Watch; BiH
Ministry of Public Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
Sarajevo radio reported that Saturday was «another hard
and bloody day» for Sarajevo. Two people were killed and 47
wounded in shelling which was particularly fierce in the Stari
Grad area, it said. *1912
One of the worst explosions hit near the Presidency, an
old Austro-Hungarian building housing government offices. At
least six people were killed and 20 wounded, all but two of them
civilian passers-by. Five of the wounded were reported as
undergoing leg amputations. Others taken to Kosevo Hospital had
severe wounds to the head and body. *1913
Serbian forces shelled the city of Sarajevo, hitting
civilian targets. Dr. Vladimir Belinki, a 58 year-old
opthamology surgeon, was decapitated when he was struck by a 40
millimetre anti-aircraft shell fired from a Serbian battery on a
nearby hill as he stepped out of an operating room at the Kosevo
Hospital into an unused room to inspect a leaking water pipe.
*1914
Two Bosnian-Serb journalists, Milos Vulovic and Zivko
Filipovic were killed in a Muslim artillery attack on the
Sarajevo suburb of Ilidza, the Yugoslav news agency Tanjug said.
*1915
(b) Local reported events
(c) International reported events
31. 31/1/93 (Sunday)
(a) Military activity
- Combat and Shelling Activity :
- An intense artillery barrage was
reported in the city.
Source(s): Reuters.
- Targets Hit :
- Not specified
- Description of Damage :
- Not specified
- Sniping Activity :
- At least three people were killed by shelling
and sniper fire, raising the weekend death toll to more than 20.
*1917
Source(s): Reuters.
- Casualties :
- At least three people were killed by shelling and
sniper fire, raising the weekend death toll to more than 20.
*1918 The BiH Public Health Ministry reported 25 killed and 105
wounded on this day. *1919 The BiH Health Ministry also reported
that: 8,247 were killed, missing, or dead from cold or hunger,
(of which 1,237 were children); 48,105 were wounded (of which
12,305 were children); and 2,189 heavily wounded (of which 2,189
were children). *1920
Source(s): Reuters; BiH Ministry of Public
Health.
- Narrative of Events :
-
The New York Times reported that throughout the week
BiH forces had been probing the Serbs' siege lines on Trebevic mountain to the south;
at Poljine and Zuc, overlooking the city centre from the north;
and at Rajlovac, a district on the north-west where BiH forces
set fire to a Serbian stronghold in an unused railway yard
earlier in the week. Serbian forces, commanding most of the high
ground were reported to have responded to attacks on their heavy-
gun emplacements with intensive shelling of the city, without
evident regard for targets. *1921
An intense artillery barrage was reported in the city.
*1922
(b) Local reported events
In its monthly operational report, UNPROFOR reported
that during January everybody in Sarajevo was waiting to hear the
results of the Geneva conference, so there were no important
changes in the general situation in Sarajevo. According to
UNPROFOR, the most important event was the assassination of the
BiH Deputy Prime Minister. A «yellow alert» had been promulgated
for two days after the incident, but there was no heavy reaction
from the BiH side. With regard to utilities, UNPROFOR reported:
1) gas pressure was high enough to provide energy to citizens; 2)
the total water supply was up to 40 per cent of the needs; and 3)
the electricity situation had improved since the beginning of the
month, but remained critical. UNPROFOR reported the total number
of people attempting to cross the airport at
10,989. *1923
(c) International reported events
BiH President Alija Izetbegovic told reporters that he
would stay away from talks at the United Nations in New York
intended to step up pressure on Serbs, Croats and Bosnian
Muslims. «I am not going to go there. There is no reason for me
to do it», he said upon his return to Sarajevo from peace
negotiations in Geneva. His decision appeared to negate
statements by international peace mediator Lord Owen, who said he
was confident that a peace deal was very near. *1924
| Associated notes | Previous part | Next part |