SFOR ASSISTS IN EVACUATION OF BOSNIAKS

STOLAC, Aug 18 (Hina) - The Stabilization Force's Spanish brigade Extremadura assisted on Saturday in the evacuation of a group of 40 Bosniaks (Muslims) from Stolac (southern Bosnia-Herzegovina), who were visiting their hometown, the brigade's information office said in a statement on Monday evening. An incident had taken place in Stolac's centre at noon that day, the statement said. Two buses with about 100 Bosniaks, former residents of Stolac and now refugees in eastern, Moslem- held Mostar, returning from a UNHCR-organized visit to Stolac, were stoned by a group of Croats in the town's square, the statement said. The two buses then left in a hurry, while the 40 Bosniaks who remained without means of travel were taken to eastern Mostar by a Stolac resident in a private truck, accompanied by SFOR vehicles, the statement concluded. (hina) ha 182114 MET aug 97