MOSTAR: MUSLIM-MAJORITY DISTRICT REJECTS ASHDOWN'S DECISION

MOSTAR, Feb 12 (Hina) - The municipal council of the Muslim-majority District North in Mostar on Thursday officially rejected High Representative Paddy Ashdown's decision imposing the city's new statute and abolishing its six districts, of which three have the Muslim and three the Croat majority.#L# The municipal council of District North said in a statement after a session today that Ashdown's decision was contrary to the will of the district's residents who had voted against the abolishment of the districts at last year's referendum. It also described the decision as unconstitutional, illegal and illegitimate and requested the parliament of the Croat-Muslim federation to discuss and take a stand on it as soon as possible. Under Ashdown's decision on the unification of Mostar, the six city districts as they are today will be abolished on March 15. Their abolishment will be followed by a transitional period during which they will be transformed into electoral units ahead of municipal elections, scheduled for October this year. District North is the first district to have officially refused to implement Ashdown's decision. (Hina) rml