NALETILIC'S ATTORNEY DENIES REPORTS ON PLEA-BARGAIN

ZAGREB, Sept 5 (Hina) - Zagreb attorney Kresimir Krsnik Wednesday denied reports made by some Croatian media that his client, Mladen Naletilic Tuta, accepted an ICTY plea-bargain, the conditions of which were for him to offer evidence of crimes committed against the Bosnian Muslims. My client, he said, had not said a word in four years, and he never will. He specifically singled out the Split daily "Slobodna Dalmacija" and the Zagreb weekly "Globus" for speculation on the alleged plea- bargain and the defence's ways of collecting evidence. Krsnik said he wanted to set the record straight and warn the Croatian public none of the reports were true. It is evident the "Schevenningen source" to whom Slobodna Dalmacija accredits some of its claims, does not exist, added Krsnik. The former Convict brigade commander and another officer under his command, Vinko Martinovic Stela, were indicted for crimes against the Muslim population of Mostar and Jablanica. Naletilic's attorney asked the Court for a continuance to better prepare the defence. He stated his team had the distinct disadvantage of working with three investigators in a relatively short period of time, while the prosecution had been investigating his client for six years with a team of 35 investigators. His request was denied, however, and the trial starts September 10. (hina) js