IPTF OFFICE IN BRCKO ISSUES STATEMENT ON FRIDAY'S INCIDENTS

BRCKO, 23 Aug (Hina) - The office of the International Police Task Force (IPTF) in Brcko, north-eastern Bosnia, on Saturday issued a statement for the media of the Federation of Bosnia- Herzegovina concerning yesterday's incidents in the separation zone in Brcko municipality. The measuring of land and clearing of yards and apartment buildings in Brcko municipality, where the return of refugees has been approved, will be cancelled for the next 48 hours, starting Friday afternoon. The decision was prompted by incidents which happened on Friday in the suburbs of Brodusa and Stari Rasadnik, where a group of 70 Bosniaks arrived to clean the houses which had been approved for return, which caused tension and conflicts with refugee Serbs currently living there. The representatives of the Federation, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Republika Srpska will meet today with the representatives of the Office of the High Representative for civil affairs in Brcko, IPTF and Stabilisation Force, in order to discuss solutions to these problems. The commission for return of the Office of the High Representative, which includes both Federation and Republika Srpska representatives, has approved 166 requests for return to the Brcko suburb of Brodusa. The Office of the High Representative will inform the public about the results of today's talks on Monday. (hina) rm 231615 MET aug 97