SARAJEVO, Sept 12 (Hina) - Monday's operation which units of Bosnia-Herzegovina's (Croat-Moslem) Federation carried out in Mostar was done professionally and was absolutely legal, a spokesman for the UN Mission to Bosnia said on
Tuesday. The aim of the operation was to fight terrorism, the spokesman Douglas Coffman told reporters in Sarajevo. He declined to comment on details from the action during which Goran Vlajinic, a former member of a Mostar HVO unit, was arrested and subsequently released. Coffman said details would be available to the public upon the conclusion of an investigation which is being conducted by the federal Interior Ministry. The UN spokesman described Vlajinic's apprehension as detention for an interview, adding that International Police Task Force (IPTF) members were only supervising the conduct of federal units in the operation. The Herzegovina-Neretva Canton interior minis
SARAJEVO, Sept 12 (Hina) - Monday's operation which units of
Bosnia-Herzegovina's (Croat-Moslem) Federation carried out in
Mostar was done professionally and was absolutely legal, a
spokesman for the UN Mission to Bosnia said on Tuesday.
The aim of the operation was to fight terrorism, the spokesman
Douglas Coffman told reporters in Sarajevo. He declined to comment
on details from the action during which Goran Vlajinic, a former
member of a Mostar HVO unit, was arrested and subsequently
released.
Coffman said details would be available to the public upon the
conclusion of an investigation which is being conducted by the
federal Interior Ministry.
The UN spokesman described Vlajinic's apprehension as detention
for an interview, adding that International Police Task Force
(IPTF) members were only supervising the conduct of federal units
in the operation.
The Herzegovina-Neretva Canton interior ministry on Monday stated
that Vlajinic, arrested by federal troops, "was not a wanted man"
and that he was released from a detention centre, where he stayed
for a few hours, after being apologised to.
The Federal Interior Ministry's public relations office said the
Federation's Interior Minister Mehmed Zilic exercised his legal
right not to give any comment on the case.
The Sarajevo media reported that federal police officers had
apprehended yet another person in the south-western municipality
of Posusje on Monday.
The Federal Interior Ministry's public relations office on Tuesday
confirmed that besides Vlajinic, another person was arrested who
can be connected with previously committed terrorist acts.
The other arrested man, whose identity has not been revealed
officially, is in custody, according to a statement forwarded to
Hina's Sarajevo correspondent.
According to media speculations, this is Zoran Basic, a former
member of the Croat Defence Council's (HVO) notorious Convicts'
Battalion commanded by Mladen Naletilic alias Tuta, who is accused
of war crimes and is awaiting trial in the Scheveningen detention
centre at the Hague-based International Criminal Tribunal for
former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
Immediately upon Vlajinic's arrest in Mostar on Monday, Bosnian
Croat disabled war veterans in that southern city set up a blockade
at one bridge in downtown Mostar. The blockade was removed at about
10.00 am Tuesday.
The UN spokesman in Sarajevo said the cantonal interior ministry
and west Mostar police were held responsible for their passive
attitude towards the hindrance caused by veterans.
Coffman blamed Mostar policeman for failing to try to remove
obstacles made up by a few cars and announced disciplinary measures
against responsible police officials.
(hina) jn ms