MONTENEGRO AND ITS PRESIDENT SUE CROATIAN REPORTERS FOR SLANDER

ZAGREB, July 25 (Hina) - Montenegro and its President Milo Djukanovic have pressed charges against four journalists of a Croatian weekly "Nacional", accusing them of damaging Montenegro's reputation in several articles. Zagreb lawyer, Slobodan Budak, authorised to represent the plaintiff, filed the complaint with Zagreb-based State Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday. Charges for slander were preferred against the contentious reports' authors, Jasna Babic and Berislav Jelinic, the weekly's editor-in-chief, Sina Karli, and the weekly's owner, Ivo Pukanic who was a co-author of some articles. If found guilt for smearing the reputation of a foreign country, they will face prison sentences between three months and three years. Budak explained that the State Prosecutor can allow the competent office of the State Prosecution to instigate criminal procedure, if he finds that the charges are well founded. Recently, 'Nacional' has published several articles on the alleged connection between Montenegrin President and the tobacco smuggling chains in his country. The weekly has claimed that Djukanovic has a share in the division of the smugglers' profit and that he allows the illegal import of goods in Montenegro which the newspaper labelled as 'a country of smugglers'. (hina) ms