SFOR TROOPS STEP UP THEIR PATROLS IN KISELJAK

KISELJAK, March 22 (Hina) - Since the resignation of the deputy commander of the Army of the (Croat-Moslem) Federation, General Dragan Curcic, troops of the NATO-led international force in Bosnia-Herzegovina (SFOR) have been in front of the entrance of the Croat component's barracks in Kiseljak around the clock, the barracks' commander Franjo Gojsilovic said on Thursday. Until the last week's resignation of Gen. Curcic who explained his move as the token of his loyalty only to the Croat people and who did not want to serve in the army under the new command, SFOR patrols were regular and in advance announced. Since his resignation the patrols have been done on an irregular basis, outside working hours, and even by night. According to Lieutenant Gojsilovic, SFOR representatives have explained their unexpected visits by having received information that tanks and other heavy arms have been pulled out of the barracks and that troops inside the barracks are bearing insignia of the HVO (the war-time Bosnian Croat Defence Council). Each time SFOR members established that they received false information, Gojsilovic said. SFOR troops' conduct in their contacts with us is absolutely correct and so far there has been no incident, he added. (hina) ms