CHURCH OBJECTS DESECRATED IN CENTRAL BOSNIA

( Editorial: --> 6737 ) SARAJEVO, Jan 23 (Hina) - Groups of minors from Zenica, central Bosnia, on 8 and 18 January desecrated some church objects in two nearby villages, the Catholic Publishing Agency of the Bosnian Bishops' Conference said in a statement Friday. Three minors broke into the chapel in Dobrinje on the night of 8 January, overturning and partially breaking church items. They also damaged many tombstones at the nearby cemetery, but were arrested by local police. A 104kg bell was removed from the chapel in Dobrinje on the eve of the Pope's visit to Sarajevo, the statement said, adding that children from the nearby school had damaged the cemetery on previous occasions as well. A chapel was completely demolished in the village of Tavnik-Cergle, near Zenica on 18 January, the statement said, adding that local police arrested minors as the culprits. It is difficult to speculate on the motives for desecrating these church objects, the statement said, adding it was indicative however that it occurred at the beginning of 1998, announced as the year of the return of all displaced persons to their homes. (hina) ha jn 231644 MET jan 98