POLICE ARREST FORMER INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL IN ZADAR

ZADAR, Sept 14 (Hina) - Due to suspicion that he assisted persons wanted for war crimes in Ahmici, the police in the southern Croatian town of Zadar on Wednesday arrested a former head of the Interior Ministry's intelligence service (SZUP) branch in Zadar. A police statement, which only cited the initials of the apprehended official - J.N. (aged 38), read that he was taken before an investigating judge yesterday and that an investigation had confirmed that there was founded suspicion that apart from helping the war crimes suspects, he had also abused his office. The investigating judge ruled further investigative activities against and detention for J.N. Two persons, suspected of crimes against Muslim civilians in the central Bosnian village of Ahmici in 1993, were arrested in Zadar last week and the police are still searching for two other suspects. All four suspects had been living in Zadar County under false identities. Commenting on the apprehensions, Zadar police said the Interior Ministry's work had been obstructed daily by individuals from state bodies who helped the suspects escape and hide by leaking information to them. (hina) jn rml