POLICE PREVENT INCIDENT IN WESTERN HERZEGOVINA VILLAGE

MOSTAR, June 27 (Hina) - International representatives in the southern Bosnia-Herzegovina town of Mostar told reporters on Wednesday that local authorities in the nearby town of Capljina tried to tear down a school building in Lokve, a settlement with Bosniak and Serb returnees, early this week. Avis Benes, spokeswoman for the Mostar Office of the High Representative (OHR), explained that local authorities in Capljina had decided to reallocate the land where the building was situated for a local graveyard, which, she said, was unlawful because the OHR's permission had not been requested. Bosniak and Serb returnees in Lokve opposed attempts to destroy the school building with bulldozers and special police forces from Capljina had to intervene to prevent a physical conflict between returnees and local Croats, the OHR confirmed today. Benes also reported that the head of the Mostar OHR, Colin Munro, requested in writing that the head of the Capljina municipality order immediate discontinuation of all works at Lokve. The OHR is also considering filing a suit should the demolition of the school at Lokve resume, she said. (hina) sb rml