SARAJEVO, Oct 25 (Hina) - Representatives of IFOR and international police in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday said that a large number of houses within the separation zone between the two entities in south-west Bosnia had been completely
destroyed in the last 24 hours.
SARAJEVO, Oct 25 (Hina) - Representatives of IFOR and international
police in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday said that a large number of
houses within the separation zone between the two entities in
south-west Bosnia had been completely destroyed in the last 24
hours. #L#
International police spokesman Patrick Swenson said that 95
houses had been completely destroyed in five Moslem villages near
Prijedor (about 50 kilometres north-west of Banja Luka) early
Thursday morning. The buildings in the villages had been mostly
damaged when the residents were exiled, but were completely
destroyed on Thursday by explosions.
UNHCR spokeswoman Ariane Quentier said that destroying of
houses in the village of Hambarine was regarded as a heavy
provocation because the UNHCR had been working on the organization
of the visit of refugees to their homes in the area where they are
to return and begin reconstruction.
IFOR spokesman Simon Haselock said that the houses had been
damaged by anti-tank mines which had been placed by so far unknown
persons.
This act of crime had been used to sow fear and discourage
people from returning, Haselock said.
According to IFOR reports, the remainder of houses in
Ljeskovica (12 kilometres south-west of Prijedor, in the Bosnian
Federation) had been set on fire.
Commander of IFOR land troops General Michael Walker on Friday
travelled to that part of Bosnia to examine measures which could be
taken by IFOR to prevent new destruction.
Haselock warned that IFOR troops could not stop such actions
alone and political action on all levels was necessary to do that.
(hina) lm jn
251350 MET oct 96