IFOR DEMANDS RELEASE OF PRISONERS OF WAR

SARAJEVO, Jan 21 (Hina) - NATO soldiers were controlling the separation zones from which Croatian Defence Council (HVO), Bosnian army and Bosnian Serb army forces had withdrawn, in order to prevent entry of any military forces into the zones, IFOR officials told a press conference in Sarajevo today. #L# There were still 16 pieces of heavy weaponry belonging to the Bosnian Serb army that remained in the separation zones, IFOR spokesman Marc Reyner said. The Bosnian Serb representatives had informed IFOR about the arms and their location and NATO soldiers had taken measures to safeguard the weapons, Reyner said. It was expected that the arms would either be removed or put out of action in the next few days. Commander of IFOR ground forces, General Michael Walker, today called on all sides in Bosnia-Herzegovina to release the remaining prisoners of war without delay. Gen Walker warned that the responsibility for this task would be transferred to the political leaders of the three parties. Further detention of the prisoners would be a serious case of violation of the peace agreement, Walker said. (hina) rm 211313 MET jan 96