MAIN SUSPECT IN MOSTAR CAR-BOMB ATTACK AT LARGE

( Editorial: --> 1135 ) SARAJEVO, 27 Dec (Hina) - The car bomb which went off in central western Mostar on 18 September this year was planted by Ali Ahmed Ali Hamad (alias Ubeida) and Ahmed Zahair (alias Handala), who were helped by a Saleh Nedal (alias Yemen). Friday's and Saturday's issues of the Sarajevo-based daily 'Oslobodjenje' reported that the police of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina had arrested Ali Hamad, who admitted to have taken part in the terrorist act in Mostar, but also claimed that the mysterious Handala had been the main instigator and organiser. Quoting unnamed sources, 'Oslobodjenje' says that Ali Ahmed Ali Hamad is a citizen of Bahrain and officer of the Bahraini army, educated at a military academy. Ali Hamad told police he had been blackmailed into the bomb attack in Mostar because he had owed money to Handala. Handala is at large, but his real identity is still questionable. 'Oslobodjenje' also brings a copy of Handala's official ID, issued by the Croatian Foreign Ministry as an ID for an employee with the humanitarian organisation "Charitable Community for Orphans". According to Ali Hamad, Handala demanded that he be given 80 kg of explosive, which he intended to plant in Zepce, Kiseljak and Mostar. Handala's aim was to take revenge for alleged maltreatment in prisons in Vitez and Mostar, for which he blamed Croat police. The explosive was secured by Hasan Cizmic, Ali Hamad's brother-in- law, who gave several anti-tank mines to the terrorists. Handala and Ali Hamad arrived in Mostar on 11 September to choose locations where explosive was to be planted. They selected four locations - a prison in Senoina street, a hotel, a residential block and a petrol station. The explosive device, which they put in Splitska street in the end, was made up of 15 anti-tank mines, 10 450-gram TNT cubes, 20 anti- personnel mines and 15 kg of plastic explosive. Quoting Ali Hamad's statement, 'Oslobodjenje' says that the bomb was put in a red 'golf' car and connected with a clock mechanism. Handala put on the car diplomatic registration plates like the ones of the Iranian embassy in Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, before they entered Mostar, plates were replaced by Mostar registration plates bearing Croat symbols. Ali Hamad said that Handala was very happy with the 'successfully' completed operation but he disappeared only four days after the explosion, having learned that he was being sought by police. Ali Hamad was arrested in October this year and has been in prison since then. However, 'Oslobodjenje' claims that Ali Hamad was arrested because he is suspected of having participated in an attack on Michael Calvin, instructor with the U.S. company MPRI, which is training the Federation army. According to 'Oslobodjenje', it was established only later that Ali Hamad was connected with the bomb attack in Mostar. The Federation Interior Ministry has still not issued any official statement as to the operation carried out with the aim of arresting those responsible for numerous terrorist attacks, so the Bosnian public remains informed only through newspaper reports, whose real sources remain unknown. (hina) rm 271740 MET dec 97