PARTY BENCHES REQUEST INFORMATION ON "VIKTOR LENAC" SHIPYARD

ZAGREB, July 8 (Hina) - The benches of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) requested at the start of Tuesday's parliamentary sitting that PM Ivica Racan urgently inform the parliament about the course of negotiations in Rijeka's "Viktor Lenac" shipyard, which is facing bankruptcy. #L# The opposition deputies requested information on the course of talks between the creditors and the shipyard's shareholders. They recalled that the shipyard employs 1,200 workers and has 12,000 sub-contractors. Session chairman Ivica Kostovic said the request would be forwarded to the government. The parliament resumed the sitting with a debate on the government- sponsored bill on gender equality. Before the start of today's session, members of Zagreb's football supporter group Bad Blue Boys distributed in front the parliament leaflets protesting against a bill on the prevention of violence at sporting events. Supporters say that they are not against supporters being punished for their outrages, but that the proposed bill "is so rigorous and gives so many powers to the police and security guards that its evident intention is to destroy Croatian sport fans groups". They believe that the bill treats supporters as "second-class citizens" and violates their human and civil rights and have announced massive protest rallies throughout Croatia. (hina) rml sb