Croatian officials reply that such statements are mostly lies.

Earlier today Croatian officials said the level of hostilities had been generally lower than in recent days.

"This looks like reinforcements" for federal troops already ranged in combat areas, said a Croatian official.

Croatian officials said that events this spring then destroyed their last hopes of salvaging the season.

Croatian officials say that 9,000 people, mostly Muslim, were driven out in the last week or so from this area.

Later in the week, Croatian officials returned hundreds of the expelled civilians to their homes.

"This is a crucial breakthrough," a senior Croatian official said of the discussions, which lasted four and a half hours.

Croatian officials said today that over 1,000 Croats have left the army's ranks since the fighting.

Croatian officials are worried that continued Serbian control over the region will lead to a de facto partition of their country.

Croatian officials do not deny that they are restricting movement.