(23 Feb 1996) Serbo-Croat/Nat
Thousands of Bosnian Serbs fled the Sarajevan suburb of Vogosca Friday as the Bosnian-Croat Federation took control of the city.
Over the past two days, almost 20-thousand Serbs are believed to have fled their homes.
They fear they will suffer reprisals at the hands of the new authorities and are leaving for areas still under Serb control.
The former Bosnian-Serb stronghold of Vogosca is now under Bosnian government control.
And - despite assurances from the International Police Task Force, the suburb's mayor and the Chief of the Federal Police - its Serb residents continue to flee.
This morning, buses waited for any civilians still wishing to leave, but many took to the road with their belongings - still frightened of reprisals.
One woman said she had wanted to stay, but because everyone else had gone, she had to.
SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"what else can I do - everyone else has left"
SUPER CAPTION: VOXPOP
Almost everyone is trying to leave - from the very young to the very old.
SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"there is fear in our hearts, what can I do"
SUPER CAPTION: VOXPOP
Many of the refugees from Vogosca are fleeing to the Bosnian-Serb capital, Pale
One of the town's high schools has been turned into an emergency reception centre.
Families sat around recovering from their ordeal and told their stories.
SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"There were lots of us walking, through snow through rain, it was terrible."
SUPER CAPTION: VOXPOP
Some having arrived after a gruelling walk of some 40km through heavy snow carrying what belongings they could.
SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"'I've only got what I'm wearing and two bags, I left everything else - including my 80 year-old father."
SUPER CAPTION: VOXPOP
Those arriving after long journeys by bus are being offered food and water before continuing on their journeys.
They are travelling deeper into Serb-held territory.
Up to 20-thousand Serbs have fled over the past two days, burning buildings behind them-- through fear of the police or hatred of the new Bosnian-Croat Federation under which they would live.
With four more districts yet to be handed over to the Muslim-led government and its Bosnian Croat partner by March 19, the problems encountered in Vogosca could soon be repeated elsewhere.
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Негізгі бет BOSNIA: SERBS FLEE SARAJEVO IN WAKE OF HANDOVER
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