MOSTAR'S MUSLIM MUNICIPALITY HOLDS REFERENDUM ON INDEPENDENCE

MOSTAR, Nov 15 (Hina) - The authorities of Mostar's municipality North, which has a majority Muslim population, on Saturday held a referendum on the independence of the municipality, while the commission for the unification of Mostar, set up by the High Representative to Bosnia, discussed the abolition of the southern town's six municipalities. #L# The head of the North municipality, Salem Bubalo, said the turnout at the referendum by 1300 hours was about 75 percent. Croats did not take part in the referendum, while the local Croatian Democratic Union party objected to its holding. Bubalo dismissed claims that the referendum was aimed at stopping the unification of Mostar. The office of High Representative Paddy Ashdown, however, said the referendum constituted a disruption of the work of the commission for the unification of Mostar. The Muslim Party of Democratic Action objects to the commission's work. The referendum does not exclude the possibility of the separation of municipality North from Mostar. The referendum is completely contrary to the current transitional statute of the town and to Ashdown's principles on the establishment of a commission which would draw up a permanent statute that would clearly state that the current borders of the town are inviolable. Muslim officials in municipality South-East too initiated the referendum. The decision on its holding will be made on Wednesday. (hina) ha