SREBRENICA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL SUSPENDED

( Editorial: --> 4960 ) SARAJEVO, Apr 6 (Hina) - The election sub-commission for appeals acting within the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina Monday reached a decision suspending the Municipal Council of Srebrenica and establishing a Provisional Executive Committee to govern the eastern Bosnian town as of now. Srebrenica was one of six protected zones in Bosnia but was occupied by Serbs in the summer of 1995. According to OSCE Mission spokesman Johan Verhayden, the newly established committee will be composed of four Muslims and Serbs, and will be chaired by someone to be appointed by the international High Representative for BH, Carlos Westendorp, and OSCE Mission head Robert Barry. The Provisional Executive Committee of Srebrenica will take over authority in the municipality and control over all financial funds. The Municipal Council of Srebrenica was suspended after several attempts to constitute it formally failed. It was elected in September 1997 and Muslim political parties had won the absolute majority. A session scheduled for March 24 failed after Serbs intoned their hymn despite a previous agreement banning it. Muslims left the session. Verhayden said the international community was perfectly aware that Bosnian Serbs were the most responsible for the current situation but, he said, certain remarks could be levelled at the Muslim side as well. (hina) ha mm 061558 MET apr 98