BANJA LUKA POLICE PROBE THREATS AHEAD OF POPE'S ARRIVAL

BANJA LUKA, June 20 (Hina) - Republika Srpska police have launched an intensive investigation aimed at discovering the authors of threatening messages on billboards with photographs of the pope. The messages appeared on Thursday night on some streets in Banja Luka. #L# The Bosnian Serb entity's interior ministry spokesman Zoran Glusac told reporters police were checking all tips about threats to the pope's safety. A member of the Bosnian Presidency and chairman of a committee to welcome Pope John Paul II, Dragan Covic, said he did not want to attach importance to such isolated incidents. Last night unidentified persons wrote insulting and threatening messages on billboards inviting citizens to welcome the pope in Banja Luka on Sunday in a dignified manner. (hina) lml