ZAGREB, Sept 2 (Hina) - What was happening during the withdrawal of Croatian forces after the 1993 Operation "Medak Pocket" and whether Mirko Norac was informed about it and took adequate steps - these were the main points of interest
of investigators with the Hague-based UN war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia during the second day of an interview with retired Croatian general Mirko Norac.
ZAGREB, Sept 2 (Hina) - What was happening during the withdrawal of
Croatian forces after the 1993 Operation "Medak Pocket" and whether
Mirko Norac was informed about it and took adequate steps - these
were the main points of interest of investigators with the Hague-
based UN war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia during the
second day of an interview with retired Croatian general Mirko
Norac. #L#
The tribunal is investigating possible command responsibility of
Norac, who at the time held the rank of lieutenant and now is a
retired general, for the killing of at least 29 Serb civilians and
the destruction of houses in the Croatian Army operation "Medak
Pocket", in which Norac's 9th Guard Brigade also participated.
The interview focused primarily "on what went on during the
withdrawal after the operation. We have now arrived at that point,"
one of Norac's attorneys, Ivan Kern, told reporters.
The investigators "have no direct knowledge of any possible
involvement on his part", he added.
Kern explained that the investigators wanted to know if Norac had
received reports from the commanders of lower units in his area of
responsibility and if he took any action in that regard, for
example, ordered an investigation or disciplinary procedure.
The interview should resume on Wednesday morning, when the
president of a Rijeka court is expected to grant permission for
Norac's extended stay in Zagreb, Kern said.
Norac was sentenced by the Rijeka County Court to 12 years in prison
pending appeal for war crimes against Serb civilians, committed in
Gospic in 1991. Last Saturday he was transferred to Zagreb from a
Rijeka detention centre, where he has spent the last two and a half
years during the trial of the so-called "Gospic Group".
(hina) rml sb