OSCE: TRUCK DRIVER WOUNDED WHILE THREATENING CONVOY SECURITY

SARAJEVO, 2 Dec (Hina) - A spokesman for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Sarajevo, Johan Verheyden, on Monday confirmed a report on an incident which happened yesterday outside Mostar, and which threatened the safety of a convoy carrying Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic, Federation President Kresimir Zubak and the head of the OSCE mission, Robert Frowick. #L# The convoy, in which the high Bosnian officials and Mr Frowick were travelling toward Split, from where they were to fly to Lisbon to take part in an OSCE meeting, was travelling along the main road toward the town of Capljina, when a truck tried to enter the line of vehicles. OSCE security members tried to warn the truck driver not to do it, but he disregarded their warnings and continued threatening the safety of the convoy. One of Frowick's bodyguards, for whom it is uncertain whether he is an American, fired at the truck driver after he estimated that the safety of passengers in the convoy was threatened. The truck driver was wounded in the shoulder and transported to a hospital after the incident. So far, it is known that he is a Bosnian Croat, but his name has not been made known. The OSCE spokesman stressed that before he opened fire, the OSCE security member had been given permission from Izetbegovic's and Zubak's personal bodyguards to open fire. An investigation into the incident is under way. Officials in the Sarajevo OSCE headquarters estimate that the incident was probably caused by the truck driver's irresponsible bahaviour, rather than an attempt to directly attack the convoy or some of its passengers. The Bosnian high state officials were to travel to Lisbon from Sarajevo by plane, but a Swiss plane, which was to carry them to Lisbon, could land only in Split due to bad weather conditions. (hina) rm jn 021442 MET dec 96