MIXED TEAM TO INVESTIGATE INVOLVEMENT OF STOLAC POLICE IN INCIDENTS

( Editorial: --> 1673 ) SARAJEVO, May 5 (Hina) - A special investigative team has been formed to assess the situation in Stolac, and find the instigators of the rising number of incidents in which the deserted homes of Bosniaks (Muslims) have been destroyed in the Croat-controlled town in southern Bosnia-Herzegovina. The team will be comprised of Bosnian Croat and Bosniak police experts and a representative of the International Police Task Force (IPTF) in Bosnia-Herzegovina. UN Sarajevo spokesman Alexander Ivanko said the decision on establishing the team had been delivered following last week's recording of five new explosions and one incident of arson in which six homes of Bosniak refugees had been destroyed. The total number of these incidents since the end of March has risen by 24, Ivanko said. He added that in this period, 31 homes belonging to Bosniaks had been destroyed as well as three of their cars. The Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Interior Minister has named the investigative team which will have the task of questioning the role of local police in the incidents. Preliminary results of investigations will already be analysed from tomorrow. (Hina) mb /as 051519 MET may 98