But he added that his country would participate in an international airlift if one went ahead.

About 100,000 Mauritanian nationals in Senegal and 85,000 Senegalese in Mauritania were repatriated at that time, most of them in an international airlift.

And while an international airlift, led by the United States, has continued to deliver food to Baidoa, other vital supply lines remain blocked by fighting.

Communists attempted to disrupt the elections of 1948, preceding large losses therein, while 300,000 Berliners demonstrated for the international airlift to continue.

Since July 3, American planes have operated as part of an international airlift into Sarajevo.

As the violence on both sides of the border intensified last weekend, an international airlift was begun to repatriate Senegalese and Mauritanian nationals.

Gunfire from Serbian-controlled areas hit two cargo aircraft on Wednesday and Thursday, grounding the international airlift of aid to the Bosnian capital.

The war culminated in an international airlift agreed to by Senegal and Mauritania under international pressure to prevent further violence.

It was Mr. Mitterrand's flight into Sarajevo on June 28 that opened the way for the international airlift.

Ten years ago today, this city was under siege, its beleaguered residents hoping desperately for the resumption of an international airlift to see them through the bleak Balkan winter.