ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA PASSING WITHOUT PROBLEMS

SARAJEVO, April 8 (Hina) - Municipal elections in Bosnia- Herzegovina are being carried out with no major problems, spokeswoman for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Tanya Domi, said in Sarajevo Saturday. All polling stations have been opened and there are slight problems connected with the enlarged number of stations, while voters had not received timely information about at which polling station they should vote. This was an omission by local electoral commissions, Domi said, stressing this would not be an obstacle for all registered voters to realise their voting rights. Observers of numerous non-government organisations following the course of elections have also confirmed the voting process was regular. There have been reported delays in the opening of 38 polling stations which were not opened at 7am due to technical problems such as the failure of all members of local electoral committees to show up and the lack of lists of voters. By 8pm all polling stations were opened. There have also been reported long queues in front of polling stations due to problems with lists of voters. Polling stations will be closed by 7pm Saturday, but all voters who are waiting to vote at that time will be able to do so. No incidents have been reported at any of the stations. Bosnian Federation and Republika Srpska police had undertaken extensive security measures to prevent any violation of the electoral process. Local police are supported by 1,700 members of the International Police Task Force, as well as members of the Stabilisation Force. (hina) lml