BOSNIAN CROAT FORCES ARE LEAVING MRKONJIC GRAD, SIPOVO

MRKONJIC GRAD, Feb 3 (Hina) - Bosnian Croat forces (HVO), Saturday left the areas of Mrkonjic Grad, Sipovo and Bocac, which are to be taken by the Bosnian Serb entity under the Dayton accords. The HVO troops of the Vitez district pulled down the flag of the Croatian republic of Herzeg-Bosnia from the command post in Mrkonjic Grad at 11:00 am Saturday to mark symbolically the withdrawal from the areas. Commander of the HVO at the Vitez district, Brigadier Drago Dragicevic, handed over the control over the above-mentioned areas to the commander of the IFOR 4th armoured brigade in Sector South- West, Brigadier Richard Dannet. The areas of Mrkonjic Grad and Sipovo are to be under the IFOR control by March 15 when Bosnian Serbs may take the control over them. Brigadier Dannet said the HVO had professionally fulfilled obligations under the Dayton accords so far. He thanked the HVO of the Vitez district for high cooperation and its commander Brigadier Dragicevic and the HVO commander in Mrkonjic Grad, Colonel Totic. The last HVO unit to leave the town of Mrkonjic Grad was an unit of Bosnian Croat military police, that withdrew this afternoon. (hina) mms 031800 MET feb 96