An evidently upset Tadic informed reporters of the conflict stating that cameras of the NOVA TV station recorded the incident, which was later confirmed by a reporter from that TV station.
The argument broke out while Cacic was answering questions from a NOVA TV reporter, who asked him, among other things, to comment on information from the State Prosecutor's Office that a preliminary investigation had been launched into alleged irregularities in road construction while he was Construction Minister in the previous coalition government.
Cacic retorted by asking why the State Prosecutor's Office did not investigate activities of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, accusing the reporter and others of being afraid of the incumbent government.
"I am open to talks on all issues, but I can't tolerate slandering," Cacic said.
According to the reporter, at the moment when he saw HSP MP Tadic entering the hall, Cacic added that he particularly could not tolerate slander coming "from the HSP scumbags".
As soon as he heard Cacic's comment, Tadic approached him and asked him whom he was calling 'scumbags'.
Cacic replied that he referred to "the scumbags from the HSP".
"You ape! You are a scumbag," Tadic said and Cacic retorted "You are an ape!".
According to Tadic's version of the incident, he then left the scene and added that the public would be able to see the footage of the argument on NOVA TV this evening.
Cacic's party colleagues said Cacic would give a statement on the incident later in the day.
Following a recent statement by Slaven Letica, the presidential candidate supported by the Party of Rights (HSP), who said that he visited the Chief State Prosecutor, who showed him a package of files he said referred to "Cacic's financial wrongdoing in road construction", a deputy public prosecutor, Lazo Pajic, told Hina on Monday that the Office of the State Prosecutor had for some time been investigating possible irregularities in road construction and that it would decide on the matter after it received reports compiled by the Office of the State Auditor and the Tax Administration.
"Following media reports on alleged irregularities in the construction of the Zagreb-Rijeka highway, a file was compiled in February. After the question raised by Slaven Letica, a member of parliament, the preliminary investigation was expanded to the construction of other highways," Pajic added.
The police have collected extensive documentation in August and September, sending reports to the Zagreb Office of the State Prosecutor, which is still analysing the reports. The police have pressed no charges and nobody is under suspicion so far, he said.