DEPUTY PM: HAGUE INDICTEE GOTOVINA HAS ESCAPED FROM CROATIA

ZAGREB, Nov 8 (Hina) - Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic told Jutarnji List daily of Friday that retired general Ante Gotovina, whom the Hague war crimes tribunal has indicted for war crimes, had most probably escaped from Croatia. "According to police findings, it's very probable that Mr Gotovina isn't in Croatia," Granic said, adding he could not say since when Gotovina was absent but that "we can say with great certainty that he has escaped." Asked if the government would be held accountable, the deputy PM said "it isn't right to seek this kind of responsibility from the government." "It isn't possible for the police to arrest every suspect. The government would have been responsible if the person in question had actively participated in public activities and not been arrested," Granic said. In the interest of the investigation, he could not say if the police were on the trail of those who helped Gotovina escape. Asked if the government had notified the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia about the escape, Granic said these were "recent findings that will soon be submitted to the Tribunal." The Hague-based court indicted Gotovina for crimes against humanity and violations of the law and customs of war committed against Croatian Serb civilians in 1995. An arrest warrant has been issued by the Croatian Interior Ministry. (hina) ha