POSAVINA CROATS' DELEGATION DETAINED IN E.MOSTAR OVERNIGHT

MOSTAR, Feb 11 (Hina) - A delegation of Bosnian Croats from Posavina Canton (northern Bosnia), travelling to Siroki Brijeg ( southern Bosnia) for the opening of an exhibition of paintings on Bosnian Posavina, was detained in eastern Mostar from 15.30 hrs Monday to 04.00 hrs Tuesday when it was escorted to the western part of the town by SFOR and international police (IPTF). The delegation's official vehicle with licence plates of Orasje, Herzeg-Bosnia, was stopped by Moslem (Bosniak) policemen at the entrance to the eastern part of Mostar. Policemen searched the car and then forced the delegation to drive to the eastern Mostar police station, the Posavina Canton premier, Neven Djukic said on Tuesday. At one place where there was a traffic jam, civilians tried to break into the car and take out Tolisa Franciscan Monastery Guardian, Fra. Marko Orsolic, Djukic added. A mob was running after the car to the police building where the driver, Drago Knezevic was hit by a huge stone in his back when he was coming out of the car. The gathered civilians had tried to break into the police building several times, Djukic said. During the (Monday) evening another six wounded persons were taken into the building. One of the injured persons received medical help as he was hurt in his head. At 23.30 hrs the Bosnian Posavina delegation and the six injured persons were transferred into the building of the joint police force in the Mostar suburb of Cernica, under Moslem control. They remained there until 04.00 a.m. when they had been taken to the police station in western Mostar, escorted by SFOR and following strong mediation of the German international police troops. Djukic said their official car had remained, totally damaged, in front of the police building in eastern Mostar. He added that eastern Mostar police had taken away the mobile phone of the delegation promising they would give it back. (hina) jn mš 111433 MET feb 97