The co-ordinating body of Homeland War veterans in this southern Croatian seaport issued on Friday a statement slamming Karamatic's decision and accusing him of trying to diminish the role which they had in defending Ploce. They also accused him of having had close business ties with the former JNA officers.
Explaining his proposal at the city council's session on Thursday, Karamatic said that Jovanov's conduct had been very fair and that he had shunned order of his superiors and secretly negotiated with local authorities which helped local defenders to take control over strategically important objects and seize great amounts of ammunition and arms.
Karamatic today said he would hold a news conference on the issue in the coming days.