IPTF REPORTS RENEWED DESTRUCTION OF ABANDONED HOUSES IN CAPLJINA

SARAJEVO, Dec 18 (Hina) - The International Police Task Force (IPTF) on Wednesday reported renewed destruction of abandoned houses in the Croat-controlled Capljina area of southwestern Bosnia-Herzegovina. Three houses owned by Moslems were completely destroyed by unknown perpetrators last weekend, UN spokesman Alexander Ivanko said in Sarajevo. Ivanko said that 35 houses had been destroyed in the Capljina area in the last three months. Their Moslem residents had been driven out earlier, he added. He said that it was sad that such incidents were recurring despite a warning which IPTF commissioner Peter Fitzgerald had conveyed two weeks ago to Federation interior minister Avdo Hebib and his deputy Jozo Leutar. If local police are unable to prevent such incidents, then they should at least arrest the perpetrators. And if they can't do that, then such police officers should be removed from their present duties, Ivanko said. (hina) vm jn 181327 MET dec 96