Bosnia poison gas threat to Europe

SARAJEVO (Reuter) - Bosnian Muslims threatened yesterday to unleash a chemical cataclysm in Europe unless Serbs ended their assault on the eastern enclave of Gorazde by this morning, Muslim-controlled Bosnian radio reported. It said Hazim Sadic, commander of the mainly Muslim Bosnian 2nd Army in the northern stronghold of Tuzla, made the threat in a fax to the UN Security Council.

'We are warning you that we have drafted plans and prepared sufficient quantities of chlorine and other chemicals to neutralise all living forces in almost all Europe,' the radio quoted the ultimatum as saying. Exactly how much chlorine is stored in Tuzla, which has a big chlorine-alkaline chemical complex, has always been a closely-guarded secret. But analysts said any chlorine released would probably be concentrated in a small area, endangering the local Muslim population including 100,000 refugees.

The message gave Serbs until 8am to halt their offensive on Gorazde, a UN-designated 'safe area', and said a large force of UN troops and food aid for its people must enter the enclave by the same time. 'Once this deadline has expired . . . we shall resort to the ultimate means and cut short our and your suffering.'