ZEMUNIK POW EXCHANGE FALLS THROUGH

ZADAR, March 24 (Hina) - An exchange of prisoners-of-war scheduled for yesterday in Zemunik, southern Croatia, fell through because the Serbs did not bring a single prisoner. The Crroatian side duly brought 87 Serb POWs to a UN checkpoint in Zemunik, expecting the Serbs to free the same number of Croatian army and Bosnian Croat soldiers. Serb representatives first said they would be several hours late. Later, it transpired that they did not bring any prisoners. At a UN-chaired meeting between the Croatian POW Commission and Serb representatives, it was revealed that Serb authorities had not allowed International Red Cross representatives to visit Croatian prisoners in the Batkovic and Bjelina camps, Croatian negotiator Grujic told reporters. Asked how the Serbs explained all this, Grujic said: "No satisfactory explanation was given - I believe it is part of their tactics to put psychological pressure on the prisoners' families." The Croatian side unconditionally delivered to the Serb side three sick and elderly civilians that were left behind in the withdrawal of the Serb army. (hina) as 251130 MET mar 95