IPTF CLAIMS RECALLED OFFICIALS STILL PERFORMING DUTIES

( Editorial: --> 9050 ) LIVNO, April 23 (Hina) - An International Police Task Force (IPTF) representative on Thursday claimed two local officials in Bosnia- Herzegovina were still performing their duties despite having being recalled by the international community. The police chief of Drvar and the Herceg-Bosna Canton interior minister were removed after last week's incident in the Bosnian Croat-controlled town in which two Serbs were killed. According to Bosnian Croat news agency Habena, IPTF spokesman Alun Roberts told reporters in Livno he would be informing the relevant international officials that the two dismissed men were still acting in their functions. Also mentioned at the press conference was Wednesday's incident in the village of Bukovica near Travnik in central Bosnia, when a bomb explosion heavily injured two Croat returnees visiting their homes. Roberts said the IPTF was expecting a thorough investigation into the incident, recalling it was the second serious incident in the village under Muslim control. (Hina) jn mb /mr 231936 MET apr 98