NEW EXHUMATION OF MASS GRAVE STARTS IN SREBRENICA

( Editorial: --> 7186 ) SARAJEVO, April 16 (Hina) - Forensic teams from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) will next week begin exhumations in several locations in north-eastern Bosnia- Herzegovina, believed to contain mass graves of victims killed during the war. UN Sarajevo spokesman Alexander Ivanko, speaking on behalf of the ICTY, told reporters on Thursday that all the graves were tied to investigations into crimes committed during the fall of Srebrenica to Bosnian Serbs and searches would continue during the next few months. Works will begin on Monday near a weir at Karakaj in the Zvornik area. Preliminary exhumations showed this location had human remains, and in large numbers. There were also indications that the remains had been tampered with. Ivanko said the ICTY Prosecutor's Office had ordered the exhumations begin after receiving serious leads which could bring new vital evidence in investigations and indictments which have already been brought. Forensic teams include 50 experts from various areas and countries, including archaeological, anthropological and pathological backgrounds, who will be supported by criminal experts from Scotland Yard and the Dutch police. Five countries - the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Saudi Arabia and the United States - have donated $3 million for the operation following requests by The Hague tribunal. (Hina) mb /as 161428 MET apr 98