European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 29, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The. Of and tripes to. 52, no. 102 500 thursday july 29, 1993 d 8693 a car bombs Rock Italy Lof a ghz explosions. Kill 5, injure dozens in Rome Milan firefighters on wednesday stand next to a Crater left by the explosion of a car bomb in front of St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome. Rome a three car bombs that struck Rome and Milan left five people killed dozens injured and two landmark churches damaged As the government struggled to find an explanation. Officials Laid blame wednesday on opponents of political Reform but also acknowledged that they had no specific idea who was responsible. Police said they had identified cars used in the Rome blasts two stolen Fiat hatchbacks packed with explosives and a third used As a getaway car found near the main train station. The explosions which hit around Midnight damaged two of the capital s most beloved churches and injured at least 24 people. In Milan a bomb placed in front of the City s modern Art museum went off about 45 minutes earlier tuesday night killing five people and injuring seven. More than 15,000 people marched in protest wednesday gathering in Milan s Piazza Fontana the site of a 1969 bombing that killed 17 people. It is one of a string of terrorist attacks Over the past 25 years that have never been solved. A crowd of protesters also gathered in the Cen Ter of Rome. The recent bombings evoked the years of Lead in the 1970s and Early 1980s, when terrorists on the left and right sought to bring Down the govern ment or provoke an authoritarian backlash. Shadowy conspiracies also had been blamed. Prime minister Carlo a. Ciampi told parliament that the government did not know who was behind tuesday s bombings. We know however that their general objective was to interrupt the peaceful work of democratic change by creating distrust and disorientation he. Said. Pope John Paul ii visited the damaged churches St. John Lateran Basilica which is his formal seat As titular Bishop of Rome and the sixth Century san Giorgio in Velaro which sits in an area Rich in ancient monuments. It also is close to the roman forum and Camp Doglio Square the traditional seat of roman government in Imperial and modern times. John Paul said the blasts were aimed at the Christian heart of Rome and told people at his general audience that he was praying for italians at this time of great  a corruption scandal has fuelled disgust with the country s political system Milan has been at the Center of the probe which has devastated the highest ranks of politics and business. Prosecutors suggested that the mafia or de Viant Security forces might have been involved. Later Interior minister Nicola Mancino announced the resignation of the chief of the civilian intelligence service. The official has been implicated in a financial scandal. Other officials speculated that the bombings were an attempt to stall prosecutors in corruption probes. House panel oks 2.2 percent raise for military by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington the House armed services committee has All but guaranteed service members a pay raise of 2.2 percent in fiscal 1994. The raise would take effect Jan. 1 under a provision contained in the com Mittee s $263 billion defense authorization Bill for next fiscal year which was finalized monday. It would apply to pay the Basic allowance for quarters and the Basic allowance for subsistence. The Senate armed services commit tee also approved the raise in its version of the Bill despite a proposal by presi Dent Clinton earlier this year to freeze All Federal salaries including military pay As part of his deficit reduction Effort. Now that both committees have approved the pay raise virtually the Only Way it could be stymied would be for Clinton to take the highly unlikely action of vetoing the entire defense authorization Bill when it reaches his desk later this year. Lawmakers cast the pay raise in terms of the nation s commitment to its service members during a period of intense turbulence within the armed forces. I Don t think anything is More important to maintaining readiness and pre venting a hollow Force than reassuring our troops that the nation truly cares about their welfare in these difficult times said rep. Earl Hutto d-fla., chairman of the House armed service readiness subcommittee. Lawmakers in both Chambers were never enthusiastic about freezing military pay at a time when morale is reported to be plummeting because of base closings troop cutbacks and other turmoil associated with the draw Down. Within weeks of Clinton s pay freeze proposal lawmakers began working on ways to find the Money to give service members their regularly scheduled raise. Rep. Ike Skelton d-mo., chairman of the House armed services military see raise on Page 2 . Ready to consider air cover Washington a president Clinton said wednesday that the United states would seriously consider using air Power in Bosnia and Herzegovina if asked to defend besieged . Peace keepers. Clinton said the French government whose peacekeeping troops have come under fire in Bosnia has not formally re Quested the air support. But the French defense minister was at the United nations on wednesday seeking Protection for his soldiers. Gen. Jean cot the French commander of , peacekeepers in Bosnia is expected to report within the next Day or so that All systems Are go for installing the air cover operation . Officials said. The United states meanwhile has reaffirmed its commitment to be part of the operation and France is Likely to seek and get approval to implement the plan said the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. This would set the stage for . War planes to open fire to defend peacekeepers if they come under attack and request help. The position of the United states has Long been that if the United nations troops were attacked there we would do our part to protect them by making Avail Able air Power Clinton said. We have not yet been asked to do that. If we Are asked that s something we will give some consideration  a regular meeting of Clinton s senior foreign policy aides look on increased importance wednesday because the French government had signalled its desire for the United nations and nato to Speed up the air cover plans. On tuesday French peacekeepers were caught in the line of fire for the Sec Ond time in three Days when a building in Sarajevo Bosnia s capital was hit by at least seven serbian artillery shells. I m very upset by the shelling in Sarajevo Clinton said during a picture Tak ing session with democratic lawmakers. The French government demanded that the . Security Council put into immediate effect a Resolution providing see . On Page 2 Sun and Futon the beaches of Europe Magazine