VUKOVAR, 18 Sept (Hina) - Representative of the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, Clint Williamson, and spokesman for the United Nations Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia
(UNTAES), Philip Arnold, on Wednesday held a press conference in Vukovar UNTAES headquarters on the results of the exhumation of Ovcara mass grave.
VUKOVAR, 18 Sept (Hina) - Representative of the International
Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, Clint
Williamson, and spokesman for the United Nations Transitional
Administration in Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES), Philip Arnold, on
Wednesday held a press conference in Vukovar UNTAES headquarters on
the results of the exhumation of Ovcara mass grave. #L#
Some 25 to 30 bodies had been exhumed so far, Williamson said.
The bodies recovered so far had civilian clothing on, but
since they were still covered with layers of earth, details would
be known after all bodies had been recovered, Williamson said.
Asked whether he could suppose that the bodies had been thrown
into the grave headfirst, Williamson gave an affirmative answer,
adding this could be concluded by the fact that the investigators
had discovered the victims' legs first.
Williamson told reporters they would be given more details
after Dr Bill Haglund returns from Bosnia, where he is attending an
exhumation.
UNTAES spokesman Arnold said that the exhumation of Ovcara
mass grave could be covered neither by the Serbian nor Croatian
media, because 'the UNTAES has decided so, in order to protect the
sanctity and dignity of that place'. The Croatian government had
agreed with the decision, Arnold added.
Asked whether the exhumation was proceeding as planned,
Williamson said it could be extended from the planned six to six to
eight weeks because of bad weather conditions and difficult
exhumation procedure.
At the end of the conference, Croatian journalists asked
Arnold to bring photos taken during the exhumation to the next news
conference.
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181801 MET sep 96