ORGANISER OF SPLIT RALLY SAYS HE WILL SUE OFFICIALS WHO THWARTED GATHERING

SPLIT, Aug 21 (Hina) - The all-Croat rally, which was to take place in Split on August 21, will not be held, it was said at Tuesday's news conference in Split. The head of the committee organising the event, Zare Pehar, said that he would sue those who thwarted the gathering with their statements. Split Mayor Ivan Skaric, who attended the news conference, said he was satisfied and grateful that Pehar made the decision to cancel the rally, and added the idea on an all-Croat reconciliation rally was noble and should be developed. We have given up the rally because we do not want Croatia to compromise itself, Pehar said explaining the committee received information that incidents could be provoked at the rally. Pehar also has information that European Community representatives were very interested in seeing the rally cancelled. He believes that the incumbent authorities, with the help of individuals from the Opposition, conducted a planned campaign aimed at boycotting the rally. Due to the pressure from the authorities, the Opposition had to distance itself from the rally and forbid its members to attend it, he said. Pehar believes the government is unable to head the state, particularly President Stjepan Mesic who, he said, described the Split rally a circus. Pehar said he would sue and seek damages from those whose statements helped thwart the rally. We are postponing the rally for times when Croatia will be a truly free and sovereign state and when the parties who promised us support would be able to back us up without fear, he said. (hina) rml