INVESTIGATION INTO KILLING OF TRAVNIK CROAT RETURNEE FLAWED AND TOO SLOW - FEDERATION OFFICIAL

SLOW - FEDERATION OFFICIAL ( Editorial: --> 0306 ) SARAJEVO, 12 Nov (Hina) - Deputy Interior Minister of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Jozo Leutar, has warned International Police Task Force (IPTF) officials that the investigation into the crimes committed against Croats living in the Travnik area, Central Bosnia Canton, is too slow and has many flaws, for which, Leutar said, Bosniak authorities are responsible. In a letter sent yesterday to the IPTF commissioner Manfred Seitner, copies of which were distributed to reporters on Wednesday, Leutar said that the investigation into the killing of Croat returnee Ivica Domic and the wounding of his father and brother could not be described as a professionally conducted one. Leutar warned that Travnik police had taken no action after former members of the 'El Mujaheed' unit had prevented them to carry out a search on a previous occasion. The former members of the unit are led by Abu Hamsa Kharay Khamil ben Ali, born in Tunis in 1966, for whose arrest a warrant has already been issued, the letter said. "The Bosniak police know it, but no action has been taken. This is a proof that the investigation is being conducted in a one-sided manner and that, should this situation continue, one should not expect positive results," said Leutar in his letter to the IPTF commissioner Manfred Seitner. (hina) jn rm 122127 MET nov 97