RACAN SAYS SANADER'S PHONE TAPPING ACCUSATIONS UNFOUNDED

ZAGREB, Sept 24 (Hina) - During question time in the Croatian parliament on Wednesday morning, Premier Ivica Racan once again rebutted allegations by Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) president Ivo Sanader about the phones of opposition leaders and reporters being tapped, describing such statements as serious accusations without any foundation in fact. #L# Answering a question by Social Democratic (SDP) MP Marin Jurjevic about the matter, the premier said that any serious politician must be aware of his/her responsibility for what he or she was stating. Racan said Sanader's accusations disturbed the public, which he said was unacceptable. Commenting on Sanader's claim that the two ruling parties - the SDP and the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) - had a special joint body in charge of wire-tapping, Racan said those were groundless claims which the HDZ leader did not corroborate with facts. This is a lie uttered for the purpose of the coming elections, Racan said, adding that since the recent 'Jambo case' in the HDZ party it had become obvious that a dirty election campaign would ensue. (hina) ms