WAR VETERANS ACCUSE POLICE OF RAIDING THEIR OFFICES

SPLIT/ZAGREB, Nov 21 (Hina) - Leaders of the Croatian Association of Disabled Homeland War Veterans (HVIDRA) said in Split on Friday that the police were searching the association's offices throughout Croatia to intimidate its members. The police have dismissed the accusations, stating that they acted in order to protect HVIDRA members following a tip-off on bombs being planted in the association's offices. #L# Acting HVIDRA president Vinko Brkan said the police had searched the association's offices in Zagreb, Sisak, Sibenik, Split, Virovitica and other towns after the association called on voters to vote for the opposition at a news conference two days ago. "This is a scandalous attempt of neo-communist authorities to intimidate and silence with repressive measures the association, which has openly and publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the government," Brkan said at a news conference. The police raided the HVIDRA offices on the pretext of having to search them for explosive devices, Brkan said. Interior Ministry spokeswoman Zinka Bardic told Hina that the ministry was appalled at the statement, adding the police had searched the association's offices "in order to protect its members". She explained that the HVIDRA office in Zagreb's neighbourhood of Crnomerec yesterday informed the police that they had received an anonymous tip-off about bombs being planted in all HVIDRA offices. "The police directorate immediately instructed all police chiefs to inform HVIDRA offices in their areas of responsibility to report to the police discovery of any suspicious object," Bardic said. If the HVIDRA believes that police officers acted unprofessionally in any of the cases, it should notify heads of local police departments, she added. "The police fully reject any accusations and political insinuations," Bardic said, adding the police had acted exclusively in order to protect citizens. (hina) rml sb