MOSTAR DISTRICT VOTES TO KEEP INDEPENDENCE

MOSTAR, Nov 16 (Hina) - Residents of Mostar's Muslim-majority District North voted in a referendum on Saturday to keep the independence of their district as the commission for the administrative reorganisation of the city, established by the international community, is discussing a proposal to abolish all of the city's six districts. #L# A total of 3,531 people took part in the referendum, of whom 3,469 or 98.24 per cent voted for the district to keep its present status as a local government unit. Forty residents voted against, while 13 voting slips were declared invalid. Croats did not take part in the vote. The commission in charge of the referendum said on Sunday that the voting had passed without any problem, but added they were dissatisfied with Stabilisation Force (SFOR) troops touring the polling stations. The Office of the High Representative described the referendum as an attempt at undermining the efforts of the commission for the unification of Mostar. The Muslim-led Democratic Action Party (SDA) is unhappy with the commission's work. The referendum is contrary to the present interim statute of the city and the principles defined by High Representative Paddy Ashdown regarding the commission to draw up a permanent statute that clearly defines that the present boundaries of the city are unchangeable. (hina) vm