Bosnia Truce Signed Amid Clashes

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina — The military chiefs of Bosnia’s three warring factions met face to face for the first time Tuesday and signed a new cease-fire agreement covering the entire republic.

But skepticism remained high because fighting was reported across Bosnia, and previous truces have quickly collapsed.

In addition to the truce, Bosnian Serb commander Gen. Ratko Mladic also gave written permission for U.N. observers to enter the besieged Muslim enclave of Gorazde in eastern Bosnia today. The town has been under intense Serbian attack even though it is one of six safe areas for Muslims declared by the U.N. Security Council.

The truce was not scheduled to go into effect until noon Friday to give commanders a chance to disengage their forces and allow political leaders time to work on a broader settlement.

But even as the generals ended their meeting at Sarajevo’s airport, mortar and small-arms fire resounded in the capital.

And ham radio reports from Gorazde said the town was being heavily shelled by besieging Serbs for a 19th day.