SPLIT RALLY OF SUPPORT FOR MIRKO NORAC STARTS

SPLIT, Feb 11 (Hina) - Croatian Homeland War veterans' associations gathered for a meeting of support for retired general Mirko Norac at the promenade in the southern Croatian city of Split at noon on Sunday. The rally, held under the slogan "We Are All Mirko Norac", was addressed by a disabled Homeland War veteran, Colonel Mirko Condic, president of the Headquarters for the Protection of the Dignity of the Homeland War, which organised the meeting. According to organisers' estimates, more than 100,000 people from all parts of Croatia and neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina gathered in Split. The protesters arrived in Split in cars and buses. A special train arrived from Zagreb this morning with several hundred protesters aboard. Organisers say a large number of new groups arriving in the city has paralysed traffic along roads leading into the town. The protesters are carrying Croatian flags, banners with messages of support for Norac and his photos. Representatives of Sinj's traditional chivalrous tournament called 'Alka' arrived too. It has been announced that the gathering would be addressed by representatives of political parties, including Croatian Democratic Union president Ivo Sanader and Split Mayor and a member of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Ivan Skaric. Attending the rally are local representatives of all political parties, except for the Social Democratic Party, Croatian People's Party and the Liberal Party. There have been no incidents and the protesters are chanting, among else, patriotic songs. Abusive shouts about President Stjepan Mesic and government officials could be heard. Retired general Mirko Norac, a former commander of the defence of the central town of Gospic during the Serbian aggression, is suspected of war crimes against civilians from the Gospic area in 1991. (hina) rml