U.N. POLICE SUPPORT GROUP REPORTS ON INCIDENTS IN DANUBE REGION

( Editorial: --> 3237 ) ZAGREB, Feb 19 (Hina) - The United Nations Civil Police Support Group (UNPSG) says it recorded several dozen incidents in the Croatian Danube river region during the past 10 days, but was satisfied with the response of Croatian police. This was announced on Thursday at a press conference in Zagreb held by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission, the UNPSG and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) mission. The UN Civil Police Support Group was sent to Croatia as a result of a request by the Croatian Government, following the completion of the UN Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES) mandate on 15 January. It has the task of monitoring Croatian police work in the Danube river region for nine months. The whole security situation in the Croatian Danube region is satisfactory, UNPSG spokeswoman Kirsten Haupt said. However 60 or so incidents had occurred from 9 to 18 February, mostly related to ownership disputes and disputes over occupation of homes. In this period there were 62 incidents reported, of which 53 were cases of intimidation regarding disputes over homes. The UNPSG considered the incidents serious. But even more serious was the murder committed on 14 February and the attempted murder in Tovarnik on 12 February. Also reported were attempted looting, explosion of a hand grenade, attempted stealing, thefts, an attack, an case of eviction and mine detonations. Haupt said at the close of her report that the UNPSG monitored the conduct and response of local Croatian police to the incidents and expressed satisfaction with the professional manner the Croatian police had displayed up to now. (Hina) jn mb 191908 MET feb 98