BUGOJNO CROATS VISIT GRAVEYARDS

BUGOJNO, Nov 2 (Hina) - About 2,500 expelled Croat citizens of Bugojno (central Bosnian town under Moslem control) visited cemeteries on the All Saints' and the All Souls' Days (Nov 1 and 2) after three years in exile. Croats managed to tour their hometown and graveyards in the organization of Bugojno Roman Catholic parish priests and the Bugojno-based Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party. The Bugojno Croats laid wreaths and lit candles at local graveyards which had become covered with long grass and weeds in the past three years. Solemn mass were said by Bosnian friars in churches at Bugojno and neighbouring villages of Glavice, Kandija and Gracanica. The Bugojno vicar, Friar Janko Ljubos, during a sermon, prayed for the establishment of the destiny of 26 missing Croats from Bugojno, and for the return of all citizens to their homes in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The 26 Croats disappeared three years ago during the Moslem- Croat conflict in Bosnia. At the Bugojno town cemetery, members of the local HVO (Bosnian Croat armed force) laid wreaths at graves of their comrades killed during the war in Bosnia, and lit candles for them. (hina) mš 021603 MET nov 96