HARD-LINE LEADERSHIP REMOVED FROM REPUBLIKA SRPSKA PARLIAMENT

( Editorial: --> 1516 ) SARAJEVO/BANJA LUKA, June 16 (Hina) - The President and Vice- President of the Republika Srpska Parliament, Dragan Kalinic and Nikola Poplasen, were relieved of their posts at a parliamentary session which ended in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Banja Luka. This action represents the removal from power of the last followers of the hard-line faction among Bosnian Serbs who openly oppose the policies of President Biljana Plavsic and Premier Milorad Dodik. The request for their removal from office was initiated by parties which comprise the government block and was supported by representatives of the coalition led by the Bosniak (Muslim) Party of Democratic Action and representatives of the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The removal was explained on the grounds of their obstruction to the parliament's work. A letter from the international High Representative Carlos Westendorp stating his dissatisfaction with the work of Kalinic and Poplasen was read out in front of the MPs. (hina) jn bag/ha 161328 MET jun 98