UN ESTIMATES EXISTENCE OF 98 MASS GRAVES IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

ZAGREB, Nov 4 (Hina) - According to latest estimates by the UN Expert Commission for War Crimes in Former Yugoslavia, 82 persons were killed and a hundred were wounded in the attacks on Dubrovnik, stated the representative of the Commission Canadian Colonel Dominic McAlea at today's conference. The number of victims may not seem as large, but from the legal and military aspect it is significant, stressed Col. McAlea. He said that the civilians and their property had been the target of intentional attacks. He said that, according to estimates of the Dubrovnik Police, some 200 members of the former Yugoslav People's Army should be prosecuted for war crimes, adding that these allegations still needed investigation. Special Rapporteur of the UN Expert Commission for War Crimes in Former Yugoslavia William Fenrick stated that the Commission estimated that there are around 98 mass graves on the territory of former Yugoslavia. He said that the Commission has presently been examining the events in the Medak pocket, and the mass graves in Ovcara and Pakracka Poljana. Serb authorities prevented the Commission to investigate the mass grave in Ovcara, Fenrick said, while he assessed the activities in Pakracka Poljana and Dubrovnik as good, as the local police there cooperated with the Commission officials. (end) m-jt 041714 MET nov 93