European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 26, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Vol. 51, no. 282 35c tuesday january 26,1993 b d 8693 acl Inton affirms Gay pledge before sum Mif with chiefs Washington apr president Clinton preparing to meet with the joint chiefs of staff on monday underscored his pledge to lift the ban on Gays in the military despite opposition from Pentagon leaders. Quot i intend to keep my commitment a he said. But Clinton said he did not know How soon he would revoke the ban Quot i want to talk to the chiefs about that a he said promising a statement on the subject later. A i want their input on How we should do it. I think they re entitled to really be listened  the joint chiefs had a late afternoon appointment with Clinton. A top military aide said the chiefs be Lieve Clinton has Given Little thought to such issues As same sex marriages and spousal benefits. The chiefs realize that a maybe they re being naive but they Hope they have a Chance to influence Clinton on the Issue a said an officer close to the chiefs. The officer said the chiefs have ques Lions relating to whether Gay spouses would receive survivors benefits health care and housing which Are Given to heterosexuals. And the military leadership also wonders whether the administration is ready to pay for extensive courses to teach heterosexual troops tolerance for homosexuals. A the danger of violence against Gays is very real. It can to be discounted a the offi cd said. On sunday defense Secretary los Aspin said he hoped to avoid a potential a a revolt in Congress and among the joint chiefs Over Clinton a plan to end the 50-year-old policy. A my argument to the military is sooner or later the courts Are going to come at of on this Issue a Asp said on cd so a. Face the nation. Clinton should give the defense so arc see Clinton on Page 2 serbian led yugoslav paratroopers Board planes sunday for training jumps in Nis 120 Miles South of Belgrade. Sarajevo s Calm shattered Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina apr a mortar round exploded in a Street crowded with shoppers monday killing at least four As shelling and sniper fire intensified in Sarajevo after several weeks of relative Calm. The surge in fighting came As negotiators in Geneva struggled to keep yugoslav peace talks on track despite renewed serbian croatian combat in Croatia where a yearlong truce was broken Friday. In Sarajevo the bosnian capital besieged by serbian forces for nearly 10 months people again dashed from Street to Street to Dodge sniper fire which increased dramatically monday shortly after 10 a.m., an 82 my mortar round landed in a Back Street commonly used to avoid a dangerous nearby main route known As sniper Alley. Several victims were rushed to Kosovo Hospital from the previously quiet Street which was full of morning shoppers. An emergency room doctor said there were four dead and six wounded. Some other victims reportedly were taken to another Hospital but there were no immediate details on their condition. Cmdr Barry Frewer of Canada a spokesman for . Peacekeeping forces in Sarajevo described overnight shelling in the City As a moderate to  he said it had been particularly intense late sunday around the Airport and the serbian held suburb of hid a to the West and at the downtown presidency building. . Helicopters near Mogadishu Somalia apr . Ucli copter gunships attacked the forces of one of Somalia a warring factions monday after twice warning them to pull Back from the Southern town of Kismay a . Military spokesman said. A red Cross spokeswoman in Mogadishu reported about 40 injured somalis were brought to the Hospital. She spoke on condition of anonymity. No . Ground forces were involved and no . Casualties were reported although. One Ucli. Copter was damaged by somalian fire the military spokesman Marine col. Fred Peck said. He said four cobra gunships from the . Both Mountain div Light fired rockets and Cannon into troops of Gen Mohamed said Hirsi known As Gen. Morgan a son in Law of for mar dictator Mohammed Siad Barre. Six somalian armed vehicles known As technical one rocket launcher one armoured person see related stories on Page 11 Quot Quot Quot a a 1 _ a Quot Quot a a a. 1 Nel Carrier and four artillery pieces were destroyed Peck said. Belgian ground forces also joined the assault 25 Miles West of Kismay firing 30 mini guns from Light armoured vehicles. Peck said the attack lasted one hour and stopped the Advance of morgans forces against those of col. Omar Jess who is Allied with one of see Kismay on Page 2 aps amps