LEUTAR EXPECTS IPTF CHIEF TO CHANGE ORDER TO DISARM SPECIAL POLICE

POLICE $ MOSTAR, Nov 12 (Hina) - A deputy interior minister of Bosnia- Herzegovina's Croat-Moslem Federation, Jozo Leutar, told the (Croat) Herzeg-Bosnian radio on Tuesday that he expected from the International Police Task Force (IPTF) chief in Bosnia, Peter Fitzgerald, to change his order that special police should be disarmed in western Mostar by 08:00 a.m. Tuesday. Leutar said that at Monday's meeting in Sarajevo he had warned Fitzgerald of possible consequences of his order. He explained that confusion had been caused because of uniforms which (Herzeg-Bosnian) special police troops were wearing. The uniforms were similar more to military suits than to police garb, said Leutar, adding that the Croatian side would change the uniforms. He said it was important to wait for the transformation of the current Bosnian Federation police forces and the Herzegovina- Neretva Canton police. Leutar said the Federation would have a total of 11,500 policemen, but at the moment there were 30,000 policemen at the territory of the Federation. Herzeg-Bosnian special police in Mostar had the same status as the special police called 'Bosna' in Sarajevo, he explained. Stressing that the Bosnian Croat side would demand the transformation of special police of the Federation partner, (Moslems) as well, Leutar said he had sent a letter to Fitzgerald to warn him of difficulties that were cropping up not only in the Federation area under control of Croat authorities but also in other federal areas. (hina) jn mš 121851 MET nov 96