MOSTAR, Dec 27 (Hina) - Numerous telegrams were sent to the Bosnian Croat family, the Andjelics, on Friday, extending condolences and condemning the death of three family members - the father and two little girls - who were killed by
a Muslim fanatic, Muamer Topalovic, in their home in Kostajnica on Christmas Eve.
MOSTAR, Dec 27 (Hina) - Numerous telegrams were sent to the Bosnian
Croat family, the Andjelics, on Friday, extending condolences and
condemning the death of three family members - the father and two
little girls - who were killed by a Muslim fanatic, Muamer
Topalovic, in their home in Kostajnica on Christmas Eve. #L#
The chairman of Bosnia's state presidency, Mirko Sarovic,
forwarded a telegram on his and the presidency's behalf, expressing
horror at the killings and hope the heinous crime would not recur in
Bosnia.
The United States Embassay in Sarajevo condemned the crime,
animosity, hatred, and religious intolerance which charaterised
such a shocking act of violence. This and similar crimes, aimed at
spreading fear among Bosnia-Herzegovina's citizens, must stop, the
embassy said.
The Islamic head in Bosnia, reis-ul-ulema Mustafa Ceric, slammed
the crime during a service in Sarajevo today. He dismissed claims
that the Kostajnica crime was Islam-related.
"We condemn violence against non-Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims),
especially if it comes from Bosniaks and if it is in the name of the
Islamic faith. Bosniaks hold Islam far too dearly to allow hatred to
be spread in its name," said Ceric.
An association protecting Croat national interests in Bosnia said
today Bosnia's Croats were deliberately persecuted. The
association spoke of an anti-Croat campaign being waged daily by
some international representatives, as well as of national
intolerance by Muslim fundamentalists.
(hina) ha