OSCE DEMANDS INVESTIGATION INTO CAZIN INCIDENT

SARAJEVO, 16 June (Hina) - OSCE Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Sunday condemned yesterday's attack on the president of the Party For Bosnia, Haris Silajdzic, which happened in Cazin. The Mission also accused the local authorities in Cazin for failing to prevent the incident. #L# The incident hampered the pre-election activities and represented disrespect for democratic regulations of the election process, said the statement, publicized in Sarajevo today. Representatives of the international community, including OSCE monitors, were present in Cazin and could see for themselves that police in the town had done nothing to protect Silajdzic. The local authorities had failed to prevent the distribution of extremely rabble-rousing placards, the statement said. The Cazin authorities failed to fulfill their commitments and secure basic rights of citizens as well as basic principles of the democratic process, the statement said, adding the OSCE would demand from the Federation's highest authorities that those responsible for the incident be found. The Mission expected full investigation into the incident and punishment for the perpetrators, the statement concluded. (hina) rm 161733 MET jun 96