Thatcher declines trip to Sarajevo

BARONESS Thatcher has turned down an invitation to visit Sarajevo next month with the female leaders of two Muslim countries, writes Raymond Whitaker. The former Prime Minister has a prior engagement.

On 2 February, when Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan and Tansu Ciller of Turkey plan to arrive in the besieged Bosnian capital, Lady Thatcher is scheduled to be on a speaking tour in the United States. Lady Thatcher had been invited because she had criticised the Western powers for not taking tougher action over Bosnia.