BOSNIAN FEDERATION'S INTELLIGENCE SERVICE CHIEF RELIEVED OF DUTY

SARAJEVO, Oct 21 (Hina) - The international community's High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown, on Monday relieved the head of the Croat-Muslim entity's intelligence and security service (FOSS), Munir Alibabic, of his duty. #L# According to a statement released by Ashdown's Office in Sarajevo, Alibabic was dismissed due to the "leaking" of FOSS documents which were subsequently used in the media for political showdowns. Ashdown describes the replacement of the chief of the Bosnian Federation's intelligence service as the beginning of the introduction of European standards in Bosnia in this field. Alibabic has for some time been the target of attacks which the (Muslim) Party of Democratic Action (SDA) and radical pro-Bosniak (Muslim) media have levelled against him. The SDA leader, Sulejman Tihic, last week said he would insist on Alibabic's replacement, as he used to work for the Security Service of the former Yugoslavia. It is known that Alibabic has closely co-operated with the "Slobodna Bosna" weekly which released articles on scandals from the lives of persons close to the SDA and the Party for Bosnia- Herzegovina led by Haris Silajdzic. Alibabic was appointed at the helm of the FOSS earlier this year when this intelligence service was set up by the integration and de- politicisation of the Croat and Bosniak services, SNS and AID respectively. He began his career as a police officer in 1980s in the then Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). Alibabic's past did not present any problem to Alija Izetbegovic and his SDA party in the war when they kept him at the office of the commander of Sarajevo Police. In 1994, he was replaced due to a conflict with the then Interior Minister, Bakir Alispahic. He was not active until 2000 when the Alliance for Changes led by Social Democrats took power. (hina) ms