CROATIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY RECEIVES REQUEST FOR ABDIC'S ARREST

ZAGREB, Jan 13 (Hina) - The Croatian Interior Ministry received, through regular diplomatic channels, a request by the Sarajevo- based Federal Interior Ministry for the arrest of Fikret Abdic, the Croatian Interior Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. According to the statement, authorised services of the Croatian Interior Ministry are considering the contents of the letter, received on late Tuesday night, in the spirit of the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, the Law on Criminal Proceedings and relevant norms of international law. The statement added that Bosnian Croat-Moslem Federal Ministry expounded the request for the arrest of Abdic and referred to the ruling of the Hague-based International Tribunal that there was sufficient evidence, according to international standards, to charge Abdic on suspicion that he had seriously violated international humanitarian law, treated civilians and war prisoners inhumanely (in western Bosnia) and forced civilians into joining military service. According to the letter, signed by the Bosnian Federal Minister, Mehmed Zilic, international and central warrants have been issued for Abdic's arrest, based on the order of an authorised court in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the ruling and consent of the International Criminal Tribunal The Croatian Ministry stated in the statement that the Croatian office of Interpol had not received information about the international warrant for Abdic's arrest. The public will be informed in due time of further acts of the Croatian Interior Ministry, the Ministry's statement concluded. (hina) ms