ZAGREB, Feb 12 (Hina) - Zagreb County Prosecutor Krunoslav Canjuga has said that preliminary investigation proceedings regarding alleged war crimes in the Medak Pocket area (central Croatia) have not been completed yet and that it is
too early to speak about filing a request for an investigation.
ZAGREB, Feb 12 (Hina) - Zagreb County Prosecutor Krunoslav Canjuga
has said that preliminary investigation proceedings regarding
alleged war crimes in the Medak Pocket area (central Croatia) have
not been completed yet and that it is too early to speak about filing
a request for an investigation. #L#
"Some investigation proceedings are still being conducted at the
Gospic County Court and for the time being one cannot speak about
the issuing of a request for an investigation against people
suspected of war crimes in Medak Pocket," Canjuga told Hina on
Wednesday.
Canjuga said that a daily yesterday ran an article stating that a
request for launching an investigation against a number of people
suspected of killings and destruction of property in Medak Pocket
would be filed in about ten days, which he said was premature.
Canjuga would not comment on the details of the proceedings
conducted so far, nor confirm media reports that the prosecution
would also demand an investigation against Mirko Norac, who
commanded the Croatian Army's 9th Guard Brigade during the 1993
Operation Medak Pocket.
The chief state prosecutor entrusted the investigation of alleged
war crimes in Medak Pocket to the Zagreb County Prosecutor's
Office.
An indictment issued by the U.N. war crimes tribunal against a
retired general, Janko Bobetko, states that at least 100 Serbs were
killed, while 300 houses and other facilities were destroyed in
Operation Medak Pocket. The tribunal's prosecution claims that a
large number of those facilities were destroyed after a cease-fire
and before the withdrawal of the Croatian forces.
(hina) rml sb