ALL-CROAT RALLY IN SPLIT WILL NOT BE HELD - ORGANISING COMMITTEE

SPLIT, Aug 21 (Hina) - The all-Croat rally, which was to take place in Split on August 24, will not be held, Zare Pehar, head of a committee in charge of organising the event, told Hina late on Monday night. Split Mayor Ivan Skaric disclaimed at yesterday's news conference any support for the event or connection between the Split city administration and the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) and the meeting. Skaric stressed that the leaders of other parties and associations had strongly dismissed any connection with the event as well. Mayor Skaric told the local ATV television station last night the rally would not be held. Pehar, however, said Skaric would hold a news conference today at which he would officially state that the rally would not be held. Pehar believes the incumbent authorities have completely boycotted the gathering and "forced the Opposition to distance itself from it as well." "Both the authorities and the Opposition are now making up stories about some secret services being behind the rally. We have been informed by reliable sources that planned incidents could occur at the event and we cannot completely guarantee the safety of participants. We are therefore forced to postpone the meeting for better times, in a truly free Croatia," Pehar said. (hina) rml