INVESTIGATION INTO DESTRUCTION OF OLD BRIDGE IN MOSTAR

MOSTAR, Dec 21 (HABENA/Hina) - The Mostar District Military Court launched an investigation into the destruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar, said Herzeg-Bosnia's news agency HABENA on Tuesday. Three members of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) are being questioned on suspicion of having fired several tank grenades at the bridge at about 10:00 hours on 9 November 1993, during fierce fighting between HVO and Moslem-led Bosnian army troops. A statement issued by the Military Court said that the three soldiers did it at their own initiative at the moment the Moslem forces were transferring their troops and military equipment from the left to the right bank of the Neretva River. Already considerably damaged, first by Serb and then by Moslem forces, who used the bridge for transportation of war supplies, the bridge collapsed, said the statement. The investigation is still in progress. 212008 MET dec 93