BOSNIAN FEDERATION ASSEMBLY POSTPONES DECISION ON FLAG

SARAJEVO, Apr 12 (Hina) - After a protracted debate, the Bosnian Federation Constituent Assembly today failed to reach an agreement on the Federation's coat-of-arms and flag. The House was submitted two designs which had won the second prize at a public competition. Both designs contained red and green checkers, the stylized Croatian coat-of-arms and the Bosniac fleur- de-lys. Federation President Kresimir Zubak objected that any design which did not include the integral Croatian coat-of-arms was unacceptable to Bosnian Croats. The matter was debated at length for several hours. Eventually, the two leading Croat and Moslem parties accepted the proposal of the Chairman, Mariofil Ljubic, that a special committee work out a solution which would take into account the objections aired today and submit it to the House at the next sitting. Following a brief debate on amendments to the Federal Constitution, whereby it would be harmonised with the Constitution of the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, it was agreed that parliamentary committees should submit a new version of these amendments - one which would take into account the objections raised today - at the next session. Under the Dayton Agreement, the Federal Constitution is to be harmonised with the Constitution of the Republic of Bosnia- Herzegovina within three months. The House today passed a bill on extradition of people charged with war crimes to the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague. (hina) as 122024 MET apr 96