FORENSIC EXPERTS START EXHUMATING OVCARA GRAVE

ZAGREB, 1 September (Hina) - Experts of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the international organization Physicians for Human Rights started exhumanting a mass grave at the village of Ovcara near Vukovar Sunday, as scheduled, UNTAES Spokesman Phillip Arnold told Hina in a telephone interview. He annunced that the group of forensic experts, whose work cannot be monitored by the press, will hold a press briefing on Thursday. Speaking for Hina, Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Kostovic confirmed the news, adding that the sight was supervised by UNTAES and secured by its Jordanian battalion. Exhumation will take two to three weeks. Identification of the victims, which will probably take three months, will be carried out in Zagreb, with assistance of ICTY's experts, said Dr. Kostovic. He underscored that the public would be regularly informed at UNTAES' press briefings about the progress the team is making. He noted that pursuant to a decision by ICTY, the exhumation can be covered only by an independent British TV station. However, the entire operation will be monitored by two representatives of the Government, concluded Dr. Kostovic. mr (Hina) 011519 MET sep 96