CROATIAN SERB PARTY LEADER VISITS W. SLAVONIA

ZAGREB, May 9 (Hina) - The president of the Independent Serb Party of Croatia, Milorad Pupovac, said in Pakrac today it was most important that people who decided to stay in the area had the feeling of safety. Pupovac visited the western Slavonian towns of Pakrac, Okucani, Jasenovac and Gradiska which had recently been liberated by Croatian forces. Pupovac said that "on the basis of what I've seen, and everything could not be seen," most towns and villages were vacated. The largest number of Serbs remained in the Pakrac area - around 5,000, including men detained in Bjelovar, Varazdin and Pozega, while other areas in western Slavonia were almost vacated, he said. Pupovac criticized Croatian authorities for returning released men to their homes "mainly overnight" and "without informing remaining Serbs officials in the area." Pupovac supported the international presence in the region. (Hina) mm bk 091751 MET may 95