TRAVNIK'S DEMOCRATIC ACTION PARTY PRESIDENT DISMISSED

( Editorial: --> 0632 ) SARAJEVO, April 30 (Hina) - President of the Democratic Action Party (SDA) in the Travnik municipality, Munir Karic, was dismissed from his duties at the request of the international High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp. Karic, who was also a candidate for the Travnik municipality head, was dismissed because of his opposition to the return of displaced Croats to Travnik. Westendorp's Office spokeswoman, Aisling Burne, told reporters in Sarajevo on Thursday that the High Representative had personally requested the chairman of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency, Alija Izetbegovic, to remove Karic from authority, deeming him responsible for creating an atmosphere of intolerance towards the return of Bosnian Croats to Travnik. The SDA Executive Committee dismissed Karic at a session in Sarajevo on 20 April. Their explanation for the decision was that Karic was a morally dubious person, because he was involved in an ongoing investigation in regards to a traffic accident in which one person was killed. Munir Karic is so far the first Bosniak official dismissed from duties at Westendorp's request. (hina) lm 301325 MET apr 98