MONTENEGRO: KOSOVO CRISIS: NATO ATTACKS

Описание: (28 Apr 1999) English/Nat

Separate NATO raids blasted Montenegro on Wednesday, two appearing to hit the airport in the capital Podgorica, another the port at Bar.

Until now, Yugoslavia's pro-Western junior republic of Montenegro has been spared most of NATO's attacks.

But the Yugoslav navy docks at the Bar Port, and there have been increasing fears that Belgrade's army will attempt to unseat the Podgorica government.

Smoke billowed over the Podgorica city skyline moments after the blasts were heard coming from the direction of the city's airport.

The Wednesday afternoon strike followed earlier NATO attacks on Sipcanik hill outside Podgorica and four hits at the capital's Golubovci airfield.

Alliance jets also struck three villages surrounding the airport in the area of Zeta, where Yugoslav air defence units are based.

The morning strikes for the first daylight attacks on a country that until now has largely been spared NATO air raids.

NATO has largely spared Montenegro in its air campaign against Yugoslavia, indicating its support for the republic's pro-Western government.

Wednesday's strikes there were the first in 10 days.

Immediately after the afternoon blasts, Podgorica residents emerged onto balconies and clambered onto rooftops to watch the edge of their city burn.

Others stopped in the streets, gaping at the sky for a glimpse of the NATO fighter planes that occasionally thundered overhead.

One man was reported injured.

Meanwhile in the port of Bar, workers rushed home as anti-aircraft fire erupted in the afternoon.

UPSOUND: (English)
(Off camera) "Isn't that anti-aircraft fire?
(Off camera) "Yes."
SUPERCAPTION: Reporter to Translator

Port Manager Vojislav Micunovic said work continued as usual despite the air raids, though many workers could be seen rushing away from the area, or simply staring into the sky.

The NATO jets were apparently targeting Yugoslav navy ships that dock in the Bar harbour.

Witnesses said Yugoslav army ships fired at allied aircraft, along with the Montenegran anti-aircraft fire.

Local residents and port workers say their country has every right to fire back at the NATO attackers.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We applied to them to (say) don't do it because I think it's not allowable because they have rights. Because I think so, Nato attacks us. So they have rights to defend. But out of port, on the open sea."
(Off camera) "But they're firing here aren't they?"
"I don't know. It's not our (firing)."
SUPERCAPTION: Worker at Port

It was unclear the extent of damage, if any, to Yugoslav ships in the harbour.

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