TRIBUNAL'S PROSECUTION WILL NOT SEEK BOBETKO'S EXTRADITION

ZAGREB/THE HAGUE, Feb 5 (Hina) - The prosecution of the Hague-based U.N. war crimes tribunal will not demand the extradition of retired Croatian General Janko Bobetko because of his poor health, the prosecution's spokeswoman, Florance Hartmann, said on Wednesday. #L# Medical experts have established that Bobetko was in no condition to travel to The Hague, so the arrest warrant issued against him cannot be executed, Hartmann told Hina by telephone. She added that the prosecution had the authority to request a withdrawal of the indictment, but in this case, it would not do so. The tribunal will reconsider the situation if any changes to the general's condition occur, she said, adding that Bobetko's health would continue to be monitored. A tribunal medical team examined the 84-year-old Croatian general in Zagreb last month and submitted its report to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Bobetko was hospitalised on November 14 for cardiovascular problems. The international war crimes tribunal has indicted Bobetko for crimes committed during the Medak Pocket liberation operation in 1993, when he was the Croatian Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff. Hartmann said that Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte was not completely satisfied with Zagreb's cooperation with the tribunal. She said this particularly pertained to the extradition of indicted General Ante Gotovina who, said Hartmann, was moving around Croatia freely. Also, Croatia is stalling with submitting certain documents from its archives to the tribunal, said the spokeswoman. (hina) lml sb