USA CONDEMNS KILLINGS IN DRVAR

( Editorial: --> 7474 ) WASHINGTON, April (Hina) - The United States most harshly condemned the killing of an elderly Serb couple in Drvar (Bosnia-Herzegovina) on Wednesday. After the couple's return to their home town, they were subject to abuse, while local Croat officials did nothing, State Department spokesman James Rubin told a news conference in Washington on Thursday. The United States called on the local authorities to launch an investigation into the killings and bring the perpetrators before the face of justice. Rubin said the US held local officials in Drvar and the Livno Canton responsible for the atmosphere of intolerance and abuse. The US also called on the Bosnia-Herzegovina local, canton, federal and state leaders to condemn the killings and facilitate the return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes safely and unconditionally, as was stipulated in the Dayton Agreement, Rubin said. (hina) lm 171246 MET apr 98