CROATS IN GORNJI VAKUF BOYCOTT LOCAL ELECTION

GORNJI VAKUF, April 8 (Hina) - Croat members of the municipal polling commission and of local polling committees in Gornji Vakuf (60 kilometres west of Sarajevo), refused to take part in the implementation of the August 8 municipal election, reported a Croat radio station called "Uskoplje" and leaders of political parties - HDZ and HSP- in that town. The head of the municipal electoral commission, Hajrudin Pokvic, declined to comment on this move, adding that the voting was proceeding without problems although Croats were boycotting the polls. No Croat party submitted its list for the local election and no Croat voter went to the polls by noon. The reason for this boycott is that there is still no resolution of local Croats' demand for the establishment of their own municipality (which will be called Uskoplje) within the territory of the municipality of Gornji Vakuf. Croats forwarded their request and documentation to authorised bodies more than one year ago. All eight polling stations in Gornji Vakuf opened at 07.00 am Saturday as scheduled, and all polling committees on sites consisted only of Moslems (Bosniaks). (hina) ms