WITNESS TESTIFIES THAT ACCUSED TOOK ON MORE THAN AUTHORISED

RIJEKA Aug 16 (Hina) - In a statement in the trial of the so-called Gospic group at Rijeka County Court the then president of the Crisis Centre for Lika in 1991, Ante Karic, on Friday said the accused, Tihomir Oreskovic, had been fair when the crisis centre had been set up however, later he took on a role that far surpassed his responsibilities as the secretary of the crisis centre without obtaining any approval for his actions. #L# Karic stated that another accused in this group, Mirko Norac had contributed greatly to the defence of Gospic however, he was strongly influenced by Tihomir Oreskovic. Karic noted that just prior to his leaving for Zagreb in mid October 1991, he told Oreskovic that he was managing the crisis centre and conducting meetings as required. Karic claimed that assassination attempts had been prepared against him three time. He was advised of one of the attempts by Oreskovic and his brother who apparently prevented the assassination. Karic further said that Slavko Degoricija and another Gospic resident had notified him of an assassination attempt on the then president, Franjo Tudjman, during his visit to that town in November 1991. The accused, Mirko Norac, asked Karic whether it was in order to abandon the crisis centre for an entire week and to go to Zagreb and there slander people who were defending Gospic at the time. Karic responded affirmatively. Ante Karic will continue his testimony on September 2. The trial will continue on Monday August 19. (hina) sp ms