MORE THAN 400 CATHOLICS, 4 PRIESTS KILLED IN SERB-HELD BANJALUKA S

S $ O FAR ZAGREB, May 7 (Hina) - More than 400 Roman Catholics, mostly Croats, and four priests have been killed in their homes by Serb armed groups in the Banja Luka region, northwestern Bosnia, since its occupation, according to a statement issued by Banja Luka Diocese officials. About 55,000 Catholics, mostly Croats, have been expelled from the area. A few days ago nine nuns and their two assistant women, were expelled from to old monasteries in Bosanski Aleksandrovac and Nova Topola. In 1992 about 50 nuns were already forced to leave the area. Thirty seven (37) churches were blown up or burnt, 17 churches heavily devastated, and another 21 suffered minor kinds of damage in the Banja Luka area in this period, according to the statement. Besides, 24 houses of the Roman Catholic parishes were pulled down or ruined. Many Catholics were physically abused, and several hundreds of them were taken by force for hard labour on fronts. These acts were committed in a Bosnian area that has not been directly exposed to war, according to the statement, signed by Banja Luka Diocese's Vicar, Miljenko Ancic. The statement underlines that Serb authorities in Banja Luka have never taken any action to find perpetrators of such crimes and to protect innocent people. (hina) mms 071404 MET may 95