IVANKO: IPTF TO INVESTIGATE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

SARAJEVO, 6 Dec (Hina) - U.N. spokesman in Sarajevo Alexander Ivanko on Friday stated that the International Police Task Force (IPTF) in Bosnia would soon start investigating violations of human rights for which local police forces are responsible. #L# It was clear form the conclusions of the London conference that IPTF would be authorised to investigate cases of human rights violations and take adequate measures, Ivanko said. The U.N. Secretary General was studying the London document and an official stance of the United Nations on new IPTF tasks would be made public on Monday, Ivanko said. It was sad that another case of expulsion of Muslims had been registered in western part of Mostar during the London conference, Ivanko said. According to IPTF reports, last Wednesday, an elderly woman had been expelled from her flat in western Mostar by a group of seven men wearing army uniforms. One of the men was identified as a member of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) second brigade. According to Ivanko, IPTF had confirmed that members of that brigade were responsible for the incident and that pressure would be exerted on the brigade's command to punish the perpetrators. IFOR spokesman Bratt Boudreau said that Implementation Force (IFOR) units in Sarajevo had been informed about the incident. Reports on the incident were being checked and evidence was being gathered, he said, adding that IFOR units would be ready to take action, in case reports proved to be true. (hina) rm 061618 MET dec 96