U.S., ITALIAN TROOPS FROM BOSNIA SENT TO KOSOVO

SARAJEVO, March 18 (Hina) - A US military unit from the Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina the size of a company was sent to Kosovo on Thursday morning to help stabilise the situation in the province, SFOR spokesman Dave Sullivan said in Sarajevo.#L# The 100-strong unit was stationed in Tuzla, Sullivan told reporters, adding that the US troops were sent to Kosovo because they were ready for immediate action. Sullivan also announced for today the departure of at least 80 Italian troops from a special unit which operates as part of SFOR. The Italian troops are trained for the prevention of incidents and mass demonstrations. The deployment of SFOR troops in Kosovo will not affect in any way NATO's ability to preserve peace and stability in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sullivan said. SFOR is currently considering other plans of action and possible deployment of more troops in Kosovo, he said. The President of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sulejman Tihic, expressed hope today that the escalation of violence in Kosovo would not affect the situation in Bosnia, but warned that there there was a certain concern about such a possibility. The media in Bosnia today bring extensive reports about the events in Kosovo, as well as about the burning of mosques and attacks on Muslim religious buildings in Belgrade and Nis. (Hina) rml