MOSLEM SIDE TAKES CROATS HOSTAGE IN MAGLAJ

ZEPCE, Feb 5 (Hina/HABENA) - The Croatian Defence Council's (HVO) units on the Zepce battlefield repelled today two attacks of Moslem-led Bosnian Army's formations, first in the region of Dolina coming from the direction of Zavidovici, and the other one in the region of Pazarici originating from the direction of Maglaj, reported the Herzeg-Bosnia's News Agency (HABENA) on Saturday afternoon. Only minor provocations by anti-aircraft machine-guns and small arms were registered in other parts of this Central Bosnian crisis area, said the same source. One of the expelled Croats from the Maglaj area said that the Moslem forces had taken 40 Croats hostage in that municipality. The Croat hostages were tortured, and it was assumed that some of the hostages had died due to abuse commited by the Moslem forces and police. Neither the Zepce HVO's office for the exchange of war prisoners nor the European monitors could make contact with the Moslem side in Maglaj in order to undertake the exchange, said the same source. 051850 MET feb 94