LAID-OFF POLICE PROTEST IN FRONT OF GOVERNMENT BUILDING

ZAGREB, Dec 6 (Hina) - Around 160 laid-off police from a dozen departments from around Croatia rallied in front of the government building in downtown Zagreb at 0900 hours on Thursday, demanding to be received by the prime minister. Around noon they were received by Deputy PM Zeljka Antunovic, Interior Minister Sime Lucin, and Deputy Labour and Welfare Minister Bozo Zaja. The protesters demand replacements at the Interior Ministry, a more efficient state prosecutor's office, an investigation into the implementation of an Interior Ministry reorganisation plan and into abuse of office, and the re-employment or retirement of the laid-off police officers. Unless their demands are met, they threaten to bring every laid-off policeman in front of the government building. During the first hour of the rally, police prevented the protesters, who shouted "We are war veterans, not criminals", from reaching the government. Around 1030 hours they were received by Vladimir Seks, the president of the parliamentary bench of the opposition's Croatian Democratic Union, and several of the party's MPs who promised to initiate a parliamentary debate on the reorganisation of the Interior Ministry and the setting up of a commission of inquiry to probe into the police layoffs. (hina) ha