NATO PEACE FORCE LAUNCHES PROBE INTO BOSNIAN HELICOPTER CRASH

SARAJEVO, Sept 18 (Hina) - An investigation led by the Stabilisation Force, with assistance of international police (IPTF), was launched into a helicopter crash, that happened on Wednesday in central Bosnia, to establish circumstances of the tragedy, said a special envoy of the U.N. Secretary-General, Kai Eide, late last night in Sarajevo. Immediately after the crash, a search and rescue operation was conducted, he added. Five senior officials of the High Representative's office had flown to Bugojno (central Bosnia) for a meeting with local authorities. After that they and another five UN workers should have flown to Brcko (north-eastern Bosnia) for talks on reorganisation of police forces, Eide told a news conference. According to him, a Ukrainian MI-8 helicopter, with the four- member crew and 12 passengers aboard, was flying under a contract with the UN and it crashed travelling between Sarajevo and Bugojno. The four members of the crew survived, and are not in critical condition, whereas 12 passengers, five Americans, five Germans, one Pole and one Briton - died, Eide said. (hina) mš 181203 MET sep 97