OSCE CONDEMNS BOSNIAN SERB INCIDENTS IN SREBRENICA

( Editorial: --> 5120 ) SARAJEVO, Jan 17 (Hina) - The Bosnian Mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Friday strongly condemned incidents which took place in Srebrenica earlier that day, when local Bosnian Serbs tried to prevent the holding of the Municipal Council's founding session. Srebrenica is a town 80 kilometres north-east of Sarajevo. The OSCE mission in Bosnia said in a statement the behaviour of the mass in Srebrenica had been organised and that both local and Bosnian Serb entity authorities were responsible. The mass stoned the vehicle carrying the acting head of the OSCE mission, German Ambassador Richard Ellerkmann, when it tried to enter Srebrenica, while another group of gathered civilians tried to pull Ellerkmann out of the vehicle when it was leaving town, the statement said. Even though these were actions of individuals, it is clear the attack had been carefully organised in order to prevent the establishment of the elected Municipal Council of Srebrenica, the statement added. The OSCE mission in Bosnia demanded that Bosnian Serb local and entity authorities at once launch an investigation into these incidents and punish the perpetrators, while the OSCE would take steps within its authority. The OSCE also regretted the crash of a U.S. helicopter of the NATO- led Stabilisation Force which at the time of the incident was on a reconnaissance mission, and the wounding of an international policeman who was hit in the head with a stone. (hina) ha 171111 MET jan 98