CORIC AND SARVER HOLD TALKS IN MOSTAR

MOSTAR, Feb 24 (Hina) - Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Interior Minister, Valentin Coric, and the commander of the regional IPTF (international police task force) Frank Sarver, on Monday held talks on negative consequences of February 10 incidents and how to overcome them. Coric and Server also discussed the removal of 'sleeping policemen' from the Mostar-Rodoc road, which were set up by the Moslem (Bosniak) side, the Canton interior ministry public relations office said in a statement this evening. According to the statement, Sarver asked for the complete documentation on initiation of investigation proceedings against six Croat and 11 Moslem participants in the February 10 incidents. Minister Coric pledged to deliver it as soon as the documentation was completed. Minister Coric strongly protested against the fact that 'sleeping policemen' had not been removed until today, although Server had promised to do so. According to the statement, a proposal by SFOR (Stabilisation Force) that smaller 'sleeping policemen' might be set up was totally unacceptable and Minister Coric suggested establishment of joint patrols at the Mostar-Rodoc road for security reasons. Sarver informed the Herzegovina-Neretva interior ministry that SFOR had taken away official arms from Marko Radic, police headquarters commander in Mostar. He also said that arms had been given back and added that SFOR had been asked not to confiscate arms from policemen if they had an official label and licence for arms. Minister Coric notified Server that he would initiate the replacement of his deputy, Sefkija Dziho, on suspicion of Dziho's committing a "criminal act of organizing February 10 incidents", the statement said in the end. (hina) mš 241926 MET feb 97