SARAJEVO, May 4: The United States pledged 282 nillion dollar for reconstruc-ion in Bosnia this year in a deal signed Friday with the Muslim-led government and he Muslim-Croat federation, says AP.

This is a historic occasion,” laid John Menzies, the US imbassador to Bosnia. This igreement that we've signed oday is the fundamental build-ng b ock upon which we can >uild our assistance."

Washington pledged the noney at a donors' conference ast month in Brussels, which raised about 1.8 billion dollars rom countries around the world to help rebuild Bosnia's shattered infrastructure, hous-ng and manufacturing.

The US contract includes several urgent projects. Work on emergency housing for the ibrthern city of Tuzla, the second largest under federation control in Bosnia, will start Saturday. The project will cost 25 million dollars. Menses said.

Bosnian Prime Minister -fasan Muratovic. who signed the contract for the Bosnian jovernment. thanked Washing-ion for the aid an invited US agencies and private companies to participate in the reconstruction.

Kreslmir Zubak. president of the Muslim-Croat federation, and his deputy Ejup Ganic, (also signed the contract.