LEADING BOSNIAN CROAT PARTY DECIDES NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS

IN ELECTIONS $ MOSTAR, Sept 9 (Hina) - The presidency of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party of Bosnia-Herzegovina made a unanimous decision at a session on Tuesday that it would not participate in municipal elections scheduled for September 13-14. The decision was prompted by the fact that conditions for free, fair and democratic elections still had not been created as well as by violations of provisions of the Dayton peace agreement and electoral rules to the detriment of the Croat people in Bosnia-Herzegovina, a statement from the session said. The HDZ leadership called on its membership, sympathisers and the Croat population not to go to the polls next weekend. (hina) vm 091607 MET sep 97