INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS ENDORSE SFOR VEHICLE INSPECTION

MOSTAR, Dec 2 (Hina) - The inspection of civilian vehicles for weapons or explosive, undertaken by the Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in the Mostar, Stolac, and Capljina areas in southern Bosnia, was endorsed on Wednesday by international officials active in the said areas. The SFOR security operation was necessary because of the 70 violent incidents which had occurred in the Stolac area since the beginning of the year, including the destruction of many houses and even civilian victims, said Richard Ellerkman, head of the Mostar regional Office of the international high representative for Bosnia. Speaking at a joint press conference in Mostar, Ellerkman said he was personally present at the blockade of a road towards Stolac on November 29. He pointed out that, as a witness, he could state the blockade had not been effected by the SFOR, but by civilian vehicles. The blockade was organised by a group of local residents whose aim was to obstruct the SFOR's work and sabotage freedom of movement, said Ellerkman. Supporting SFOR's vehicle inspection, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees spokeswoman Ariane Quentier said too many incidents against returnees had occurred in the Stolac area in the past year. (hina) ha mm