IPTF: BOSNIAK POLICE HARASS DETAINEES

VITEZ, June 5 (Hina) - The Banja Luka-based International Police Task Force and the UN Human Rights Office, western Bosnia-Herzegovina, were concerned about the increasing number of instances of physical harassment at Bosniak (Muslim) police stations, in Velika Kladusa and Bihac especially, spokesman for IPTF Alun Roberts told reporters in Vitez on Thursday. Several Muslims had been arrested, without an important motive, detained and harassed at police stations, Roberts pointed out. They were, according to him, followers or former members of Fikret Abdic's military units. IPTF was also concerned regarding the refusal of Serb police in Gradiska and Prijedor to accept rules on the set-up of police check- points, Roberts said. The situation in Drvar, as regarded arson, was getting better, he added, stressing that IPTF's cooperation with Croatian police in the town was improving. (hina) ha mm 051809 MET jun 97