INTERIOR MINISTRY: POLICE ACTED ACCORDING TO LAW

ZAGREB, Sept 11 (Hina) - All police actions on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning regarding the breaking up of a several-month long protest staged by dismissed police officers in front of the government building were carried out in accordance with the law and regulations, the Interior Ministry said in a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon. #L# The ministry recalled that the decision to cease the protest had been made in line with the Law on Public gathering, because the organiser of the rally, Filic Lacic, had done nothing to prevent Tuesday's incidents. A policeman-protester yesterday refused to move his vehicle from the square during yesterday's meeting between Croatian and Slovene prime ministers. He also insulted police officers who used force to get him out of the vehicle. Another protester threw eggs and yoghurt at Prime Minister Ivica Racan, but missed, and was charged with endangering the prime minister's safety. When he arrived in front of the government building today, Lacic began insulting police officers because of which, alongside the fact that he had not secured peace and order, which he was bound to do as protest organiser, he was arrested and forced into a police van, since he had resisted arrest. Lacic sustained light injuries during his arrest and will remain under medical supervision for the next three days. Appropriate charges will be levelled against him, the ministry said. A ministry's spokeswoman recalled that during the ex-policemen's protests, incidents had happened before on several occasions, as well as that police had found more than 15 kg of explosives and a large amount of bombs and ammunition in the home of the protester who threw eggs and yoghurt at Prime Minister Racan. This was the second time the same person attacked the prime minister. (hina) lml