HIGH REPRESENTATIVE REPLACES MAYOR OF ORASJE

( Editorial: --> 7395 ) SARAJEVO, Sept 1 (Hina) - The international high representative for Bosnia Carlos Westendorp on Tuesday passed a decision on the replacement of the Mayor of Orasje, a Croat-controlled town in northern Bosnia, Marko Benkovic. According to Westendorp's spokesman Rid Attarashany, Benkovic was replaced after an investigation conducted by representatives of Westendorp's office and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe mission in Bosnia showed that he had been preventing the return of refugees, obstructing a fair electoral campaign and favouring the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia- Herzegovina (HDZ BH) party, of which he is member, ahead of an upcoming general election. The spokesman said he had requested HDZ BH president Ante Jelavic to immediately implement Westendorp's decision and ensure that a new Orasje Mayor take office within two weeks. (hina) ha jn 011728 MET sep 98