SFOR DENIES ACCUSATIONS OF PROSTITUTION & DRUG SMUGGLING

( Editorial: --> 5807 ) SARAJEVO, Aug 25 (Hina) - Special investigators have researched the claims made by Spanish paper El Mundo on instances of underage prostitution and drug smuggling among members of the NATO-led peace Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia and concluded the accusations were completely unfounded. Three multinational groups of investigators composed of members of military police between May 25 and August 3 conducted an investigation and questioned more than 90 persons in Bosnia, Croatia and Italy, SFOR spokeswoman Sheena Thompson told reporters in Sarajevo on Tuesday. The investigation was conducted following a direct order from NATO commander in Bosnia, U.S. General Eric Shinseki. Those questioned included former and current commanders of SFOR units, soldiers, employees of non-government and international organisations, local policemen and members of the International Police Task Force. One of the two articles El Mundo published in May and June was based on an alleged report of the Spanish intelligence service CESID, which stated that SFOR members had organised a chain of underage prostitution and sold drugs in the Mostar area, in southern Bosnia. NATO Secretary General Javier Solana earlier on called these accusations as unfounded, and the Spanish Ministry of Defence denied the existence of the report. The investigators also talked to persons quoted by El Mundo as witnesses, but they all asserted their statements had been either twisted or taken out of context. The investigation concluded the accusations made by El Mundo's reporters were worthless and that the investigation procedure was closed, said the SFOR spokeswoman, adding the SFOR commander was satisfied with the way the investigation had been conducted and had okayed its findings. (hina) ha 251442 MET aug 98