5,000 VICTIMS YET TO BE EXHUMED AND IDENTIFIED IN DANUBE REGION

( Editorial: --> 5138 ) ZAGREB, Dec 1 (Hina) - All technical preconditions to begin an exhumation in the Danube river region of eastern Croatia have been fulfilled, forensic experts said at a meeting in the headquarters of the government's Commission for Imprisoned and Missing Persons on Monday. Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Kostovic said that exhumation teams were guaranteed safety and necessary equipment, funds and conditions for the identification of mortal remains. Of 10,000 people killed during the war in Croatia, 1,400 have been exhumed in the last two years, of whom 80 percent have been identified. Col. Ivan Grujic, chairman of the Commission for Imprisoned and Missing Persons, said there were 5,000 victims yet to be disinterred and identified. He added that an exhumation of 1,200 victims buried at a Vukovar cemetery would begin soon. Croatian police and international forces in the Danube region will provide security during the work of exhumation teams. (hina) vm mm 011932 MET dec 97