SERB EXTREMISTS ATTACK CROATIAN REPORTERS IN VUKOVAR

VUKOVAR, Dec 4 (Hina) - An exhibition of Croatian and Serb children's works, which should have taken place, in organization of the UNTAES, at a Serb cultural centre in Vukovar was cancelled, due to demonstrations which, according to unofficial sources, were organized by an activist group of Vukovar women and during which Serb extremists attacked a dozen Croatian journalists. After they arrived in front of the cultural centre building, journalists were received by the UNTAES information department's official Douglas Coffman. He sent them to the UN headquarters where a spokesman to the U.N. Transitional Administration, Philip Arnold in brief said he was sorry that a group between 100 and 150 persons were protesting against the exhibition which he described as part of the peaceful reintegration, and added that the reason for the protest rally was also yesterday's visit of President Tudjman. Arnold also said that in every democratic country, like Croatia, protests were always held for some reason. After Croatian journalists returned in front of the cultural centre without escort of UNTAES members, a large group of demonstrators shouted at them "Arnold Is Bringing Ustashas" and prevented them to enter the centre. Serb demonstrators began to hurl verbal insults at the journalists and threaten them physically when the UNTAES spokesman Philip Arnold was physically attacked as well. Immediately after that Arnold called U.N. policeman to protect the journalists. The demonstrators physically assaulted also Croatian Television cameraman Goran Santar and reporter Mirela Srsic. Croatian media workers left the place of the incident in a U.N. vehicle which the Serb crowd thumped with fists and kicked, and hurled several things at the vehicle. The journalists left Vukovar, escorted by U.N. police. (hina) mm mš 041826 MET dec 96