SARAJEVO, 4 Oct (Hina) - A group of Iraqi citizens, who arrived in Bosnia-Herzegovina without necessary documents a week ago, asked to be granted asylum, said Kris Janowski, spokesman for the U.N. High Commission for Refugees in
Sarajevo. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Janowski also cited reports by the Federation Interior Ministry. The Iraqi citizens were being interviewed by UNHCR officials, while international police members were investigating their arrival, he said.
SARAJEVO, 4 Oct (Hina) - A group of Iraqi citizens, who arrived in
Bosnia-Herzegovina without necessary documents a week ago, asked to
be granted asylum, said Kris Janowski, spokesman for the U.N. High
Commission for Refugees in Sarajevo. Speaking at a press conference
on Friday, Janowski also cited reports by the Federation Interior
Ministry. The Iraqi citizens were being interviewed by UNHCR
officials, while international police members were investigating
their arrival, he said. #L#
The 24 Iraqi citizens, together with another four Jordanians,
arrived in Bosnia on board a Jordanian military plane. Immediately
after their arrival, they were arrested by the Bosnian police.
A statement, issued later by the Federal Interior Ministry,
accused IFOR of allowing foreigners to enter the country illegally.
However, IFOR spokesman Simon Haselock stated today that the
plane's captain had not informed IFOR that the plane was carrying
any passengers whatsoever.
According to a source, who wanted to remain anonymous and who
was cited by today's issue of the Sarajevo daily 'Oslobodjenje',
Muhamed Morahorovic, charge d'affaires in the Bosnian embassy in
Jordan, was directly responsible for the attempt to 'smuggle' the
group into Bosnia-Herzegovina. Morahorovic allegedly promised the
group to employ them on construction sites in Bosnia and received
money from them for their visas.
(hina) rm
041533 MET oct 96