(11 Mar 1998) English/Nat
The U-S State Department on Wednesday condemned a move by Serbian police to conduct early burials, of Kosovo Albanians killed in last week's police crackdown.
Spokesperson James Rubin said it indicated Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic had something to hide.
U-S State Department spokesperson James Rubin told a regular briefing that there was no evidence that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic was meeting demands made by western powers on Monday.
The demands included moving towards dialogue and desisting from military actions.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"What we've seen is an outrageous decision by the Serbian police to conduct early burials, these are burials that were conducted without the approval of the families. This act suggests the President Milosevic has something to hide. We are concerned the burials have destroyed and damaged evidence before it could be independently examined by forensic experts. Bob Gelbard requested the victims be able to - the families be able to have the bodies examined by outside authorities, this is a message the contact group made with regard to outside information being made available. So this is another demonstration of a intransigence and flouting of the will of the international community by President Milosevic
SUPER CAPTION: James Rubin, U-S State Department spokesperson
At least 74 people were killed in the Serbian security forces' action.
Ethnic Albanians say dozens of victims of last week's bloody police crackdown
were dumped in a mass grave.
The Albanians decided to unearth the bodies and rebury them on Wednesday -- in individual coffins and according to Muslim funeral rites.
The State Department spokesperson suggested what steps should be taken next, starting with a visit to the region by the International Committee of the Red Cross .
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We could start with the ICRC to find out what happened. We've made clear that we believe that this is under the authority of the international tribunal for former Yugoslavia."
SUPER CAPTION: James Rubin, U-S State Department spokesperson
Rubin also moved to clear up confusion over the health of Saudi Arabian leader King Fahd.
The State Department quoted Saudi Arabian officials on Wednesday as denying reports that he had undergone surgery.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"What the Saudi Government has told us is the press reports of the King having surgery are erroneous, that the King is in a stable condition and his health is improving, that is what we can say today about the state of health of King Fahd."
SUPER CAPTION: James Rubin, U-S State Department spokesperson
On Tuesday, a State Department spokesman, James Foley, had told reporters the King underwent surgery for a gall bladder problem and wished him well.
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