CROATS LIFT BLOCKADE OF THEIR VILLAGE IN EXCHANGE FOR RETURN

( Editorial: --> 2607 ) VITEZ, Sept 23 (Hina) - Municipal and canton representatives from Vitez (central Bosnia) and officials of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday decided to meet the requests of the residents of Gacice, a village in the Vitez municipality. A group of Croats from Gacice held under blockade all roads leading to their village for 35 hours, demanding that the return of Muslims to the village be stopped until Croat refugees start returning to the village of Bukovica near Travnik, central Bosnia. The villagers also requested that the problem of water supply in Gacice be solved and that seven Muslims, who they claim have committed war crimes against Croats in the area, be prevented from returning. The blockade was lifted around 7pm on Tuesday after the villagers were promised that their requests would be considered. Vitez municipal heads and international representatives today accepted the villagers' request for check-points to be set up outside the village so that the further return of Muslim refugees could be prevented until Croat refugees start returning to Bukovica. Since September 8, 25 Muslim families have returned to Gacice. The lifting of the blockade was preceded by yesterday's agreement of Travnik and Vitez municipal heads on the return of 36 Croat families to Bukovica. (hina) rml /sp 232057 MET sep 98