MARKOV CALLS ON HDZ PRESIDENT TO PROVE CLAIMS OF BEING TAPPED

ZAGREB, Sept 22 (Hina) - The chairman of the Croatian parliament Interior Affairs and National Security Committee, Ante Markov of the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), on Monday called on the President of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) Ivo Sanader to present documents on alleged wire tapping of opposition politicians and journalists that had allegedly been ordered by the current government, i.e. the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and HSS.#L# "Sanader's claims unpleasantly surprised me and it would be proper if he were to document them and state on what basis he made his claim particularly in light of the pre-election period we have just entered," Markov said. Sanader claims that there is no civilian supervision of the country's secret services calling on the relevant bodies to check his allegations that the current government is tapping him, reporters, media houses and some members of the ruling coalition. Should Sanader not back up his allegations, that will mean that this is just sheer politicising and if there is no basis to the allegations, Sanader could be face with libel, Markov said. If he has firm indications that he is being tapped, he should have reported his findings to the Committee, Markov said. (Hina) sp it