ZAGREB FOR PROTEST OVER NORAC CASE ZAGREB, Feb 15 (Hina) - A meeting of support for retired general Mirko Norac, suspected of war crimes, was held in front of the Croatian parliamentary building in Zagreb on Thursday. According to an
official police report, some 13,000 protesters rallied in the capital's St. Mark's Square.
ZAGREB, Feb 15 (Hina) - A meeting of support for retired general
Mirko Norac, suspected of war crimes, was held in front of the
Croatian parliamentary building in Zagreb on Thursday. According
to an official police report, some 13,000 protesters rallied in the
capital's St. Mark's Square. #L#
Carrying Croatian flags and the flags of their associations as well
as banners expressing support for Norac, some dressed in white T-
shirts with the 'I am a war criminal' logo, the protesters, of whom
the most numerous were war veterans, demonstrated against the
criminalisation of the Homeland War, shouting "The red gang" and
chanting 'Franjo, Franjo', 'Vukovar' and 'Mirko'.
The Croatian police last week issued an arrest warrant for General
Mirko Norac, who is suspected of committing war crimes against
civilians in the Gospic area in 1991.
The Zagreb rally lasted an hour and no incidents were reported.
The gathered shouted insults against President Stjepan Mesic,
Prime Minister Ivica Racan and the president of the Croatian
People's Party (HNS) and parliamentary deputy, Vesna Pusic.
The highest state officials did not address the protesters although
they had been requested to do so by the organisers of the rally.
A statement by one of the speakers that soldiers will trust the
authorities once they start dealing with partisans' crimes was
greeted by the protesters with shouts of "We want elections".
The authorities were given a deadline of 30 days to respond to the
protesters' demands, which include the adoption of acts on amnesty,
protection of the Homeland War, and the social status of soldiers.
(hina) sb rml