REMAINS OF 22 EXHUMED AT GRACAC ORTHODOX CEMETERY

GRACAC, May 23 (Hina) - The remains of 22 persons killed during 1995's liberation operation "Storm" have been exhumed at an Orthodox cemetery in Gracac, the chief of the government's team for exhumations, Ivan Grujic, said on Thursday. #L# Exhumations in the area began on May 20 based on an order by the local county court's investigating judge and state prosecutor's office. The exhumations are observed by investigators of the Hague war crimes tribunal. The remains of a total of 158 persons will be exhumed at the Gracac Orthodox cemetery. Besides the human remains, the exhumations yielded German marks, gold rings and other valuable objects, which indicates that the victims had not been robbed, said Ivan Galovic, a member of the government's exhumations team. Thus far, investigation has shown that the victims' deaths did not constitute a breach of international laws of war. The exhumations indicate that the victims were not buried in a joint or mass grave, said Grujic, adding that the remains belonged mostly to members of Serb paramilitary units. The Croatian government was notified that members of Serb paramilitary units were buried at the Gracac Orthodox cemetery back in 1995. After "Storm", the bodies found in the wider Gracac area were buried at said cemetery, Grujic stated, adding that the exhumations would be completed in 7-8 days. (hina) ha sb