IFOR TO COMPENSATE FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY BLOWING UP DOOR OF ARMY HO

HO $ SPITAL LIVNO, Nov 9 (Hina) - The IFOR Malaysian battalion commander, colonel Syed Mohammad Bin Alwi Schabab, on Saturday consented to compensate for the damage caused by blowing up the entrance door to an army hospital near Livno (southwestern Bosnia). He consented to the compensation during the talks with the Livno canton and municipal head Mirko Bakovic. The Livno police station reported last Wednesday that (NATO-led implementation force) IFOR had blown up the door of the army hospital at Sturba believing that arms had been hidden inside. IFOR members did that failing to inform previously the Livno municipal leadership or the Livno hospital staff who had the key of the mined hospital. Last Thursday Livno heads stressed that neither arms nor military equipment had been ever stored in the Sturba army hospital, and the IFOR troops could see for themselves that. Speaking about reasons for blowing up the door, Malaysian battalion commander said the army hospital had been dubious because of visible aerials. He added that their suspicion had grown after IFOR soldiers could not tour the hospital as the hospital staff at Livno refused to give them keys. Protesting at the act of blowing up the entrance door, Bakovic described it as inappropriate and useless. The Livno head demanded that damage should be repaired, and the IFOR representative accepted. (hina) mš 092113 MET nov 96