SFOR, IPTF SEIZE CIVIL POLICE BUILDINGS IN BANJA LUKA

SARAJEVO, Aug 20 (Hina) - Members of the Stabilization Force and the International Police Task Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina early Wednesday morning took control over all significant civil police buildings in Banja Luka at the request of the international high representative's office, SFOR spokesman John Blakeley told reporters in Sarajevo. At 06.00 hours, members of the SFOR and the IPTF entered the Security Services Centre in Banja Luka, three police stations and a school of the Interior Ministry. The action engaged 90 British and Czech soldiers and 15 armoured vehicles, Blakeley said, pointing out no resistance was made to NATO soldiers. The situation in Banja Luka was completely calm, he added. SFOR's spokesman confirmed a group of civilians, whom he described as "young, short-haired men", gathered in front of the police stations, but refused to comment reporters' allegations that they were members of the special police loyal to Pale. During a morning search of police premises in Banja Luka, large quantities of arms and ammunitions were discovered, Blakeley said, adding they were seized and taken away in three trucks. According to Simon Haselock, spokesman for the international high representative's office, the SFOR and IPTF's action was requested after an investigation into material previously seized from the Security Services Centre had shown that the Banja Luka police was involved in crime, including the bugging of judges of the Constitutional Court, Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic and diplomats in the region, as well as the intimidation of the judges and Plavsic. Republika Srpska Interior Minister Dragan Kijac and his associates must therefore be replaced, Haselock said. He pointed out the international community acknowledged only those police officials in Banja Luka appointed by Plavsic. It is believed that almost all regular police in Banja Luka is completely controlled by Pale. Part of the special police and the army, however, back Plavsic. (hina) ha jn 201353 MET aug 97