KFOR DISMISSES REPORTS ABOUT RETURN OF YU POLICE TO KOSOVO

PRISTINA, Sept 22 (Hina) - International peace-keepers in Kosovo (KFOR) have categorically dismissed allegations in some media that the Yugoslav police and KFOR would start joint border patrols. The reports are not only false but ridiculous, KFOR spokesman Roy Brown told reporters in Pristina on Saturday. There were no secret arrangements between KFOR and Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and claims that the so-called Yugoslav rangers will be wearing KFOR uniforms are ridiculous, Brown said. The report on joint police patrols was published by the Skoplje- based Macedonian-language magazine Start and was cited by some other media. KFOR is ready to control Kosovo borders and resume that duty in order to prevent the smuggling of people and goods, Brown said. Additional activities and increased control on the Kosovo- Macedonia border have resulted in the arrest of at least 800 persons since June. Of that number, only 40 have been detained and others were released as their connection to Albanian guerrillas in Macedonia could not be proved, Brown said. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Mission in Kosovo announced today that of 86,000 refugees who had found shelter in Kosovo since the beginning of the Macedonia conflict, 53,000 had returned to their homes. Another 28,600 are still in Kosovo, the Mission said. (hina) rml