SFOR TROOPS REPORT ILLEGAL CHECKPOINTS ON BOSNIAN ROADS

SARAJEVO, Dec 27 (Hina) - NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR) troops have observed several illegal checkpoints during regular patrols over the Christmas holidays on roads traversing zones of separation between the Moslem-Croat and Serb entities. SFOR spokesman Jan Joosten told a news conference in Sarajevo on Friday that checkpoints had been spotted mainly in southwestern and southeastern Bosnia-Herzegovina. He said that SFOR troops and international police would remove all illegal checkpoints to ensure full freedom of movement. Joosten went on to say that SFOR soldiers had found a large amount of unauthorized weapons and ammunition in a Bosnian army depot in Jelah, north of Sarajevo, on December 24. The weapons included shoulder-launched missiles, explosives and mortar grenades. Because of the inefficient removal of land mines, the SFOR commander had issued a temporary ban on all movement and exercises of Croatian Defence Council (HVO) troops in the Vitez area and the First Krajina Corps of the Serb army. A similar ban had already been imposed on the Bosnian army's First Corps, the spokesman said. (hina) vm 271347 MET dec 96