IPTF ACTION UNDEMOCRATIC, UNCIVILISED - SAY AUTHORITIES IN LIVNO

LIVNO, Feb 10 (Hina) - Wednesday's action of the International Police Task Force (IPTF) in Livno was undemocratic and uncivilised, representatives of Hercegbosna Canton said on Thursday, adding IPTF's representatives had not produced a warrant to search the building of the cantonal Interior Ministry in Livno. Backed by some 40 well-armed members of NATO's peace-keeping Stabilisation Force, members of the IPTF yesterday for several hours occupied and searched all offices in the Hercegbosna Canton Interior Ministry building in the south-western Bosnian town. It is correct that "international forces have a mandate to act in all spheres in Bosnia-Herzegovina," the head of the cantonal government, Mirko Mihaljevic, told reporters after today's extraordinary and closed government session. He pointed out however that neither a search warrant nor minutes on what had been found and confiscated were produced. The IPTF "may write what they please, but that means their aim is to exert psychological impact on officials of the cantonal government, but on Croats in Hercegbosna Canton as well," Mihaljevic concluded. According to prefect Ivan Ivic, "the real purpose of the action is something quite different, and not a regular weaponry control at the Interior Ministry, as United Nations Mission spokesman Allun Roberts said." Hercegbosna Canton will therefore demand that the international community state what the real purpose of yesterday's action was, said Ivic. (hina) ha mm