CROATIAN WAR VETERANS ACCUSE AUTHORITIES OF TREASON

ZAGREB, July 19 (Hina) - Marinko Liovic, president of the Croatian Disabled Homeland War Veterans (HVIDR) association, said on Thursday Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and Prime Minister Ivica Racan will be held accountable for what they did to the Croatian people once they are no longer in power. Liovic accused Racan of securing a vote of confidence in his government through political manipulation. Addressing a news conference, Liovic confirmed that he was in indirect contact with general Ante Gotovina and that HVIDR members were ready to protect the general. "On 50 policemen sent to arrest him, there will be at least 500 of HVIDR members," he said. Liovic expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) parliamentary bench president Vladimir Seks whose long speech in the parliament prevented deputies from taking a vote on a draft seeking a referendum on equating the status of Croatian soldiers with that of the members of the victorious armies in World War II. A senior HVIDR member, Ivica Perkovic, announced the possibility of filing a constitutional complaint against the incumbent authorities due to treason. By adopting conclusions on Croatia's relations with the Hague war crimes tribunal the parliament has violated its Homeland War Declaration, Perkovic said. (hina) sb rml