FRANCISCAN MONASTERY IN SARAJEVO STONED

SARAJEVO, Feb 19 (Hina) - A Franciscan monastery and church of St. Ante in the Sarajevo suburb of Bistrik were stoned during mass on Tuesday evening. A statement issued by the monastery on Wednesday said that the attack had taken place around 17.30 hours while about 140 persons had been present in the church . The still unidentified attackers threw stones at the church and broke a stained-glass window. The attack had upset the people, the statement said, stressing that the local police had conducted an investigation immediately after the mass. This was not the first attack on the monastery, the statement said. The Sarajevo police was informed about all serious attacks and they patrolled the area around the monastery at times. "The monastery personnel held it more helpful not to inform the public about the incidents so as not to increase the present tensions. Such attacks, however, cause general insecurity and we have been forced to ask for protection of the public," the statement said. (hina) lm jn 191739 MET feb 97