MOSQUE'S MINARET NEAR TOMISLAVGRAD DAMAGED IN EXPLOSION

TOMISLAVGRAD, March 17 (Hina) - The minaret of the local mosque in Stipanici (south Bosnia-Herzegovina) was damaged with an explosion on Saturday night. Stipanici is settled by both Croats and Moslems. The act was harshly condemned by Bosnian Federation President Kresimir Zubak, as well as the Herzeg-Bosnia Canton government and Tomislavgrad municipal leadership in a joint statement. "The planting of an explosive device on a mosque in Stipanici ... is an act of violence which I harshly condemn," Zubak said in a statement. "This is an act which insults every honest man, all religious communities and all peoples and as such opposes the principles of Croat politics in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Bosnian Federation. It is indubitable that it is an attempt to undermine efforts to normalize relations between the Croat and Bosniac-Moslem people and efforts in general to establish peace and a peaceful co- existence in the area," Zubak stressed. He called on authorized police bodies to conduct a thorough investigation and to bring the perpetrators to justice. (hina) lm jn 171729 MET mar 97