MIRKO GALIC, HTV EDITORS ACQUITTED OF LIBEL CHARGES

ZAGREB, Dec 18 (Hina) - The director of the Croatian Radio Television (HRT) Mirko Galic, and four Croatian Television (HTV) editors were on Tuesday acquitted of charges of libel against the former Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. The charges were filed before the Zagreb County Court in July by the late president's wife, Ankica Tudjman, after the HTV broadcast a documentary claiming Tudjman looted Croatia, stealing a billion pounds and covered up war crimes. Requesting 100,000 kuna in compensation, Ankica Tudjman also sued the then HTV editor-in-chief, Neda Ritz, editors Mirjana Rakic and Dubravko Merlic, as well as Igor Mirkovic, whose television show hosted the documentary last November. Judge Mladen Zeravica said the film, produced by the British company "News Watch", said the film did tell untruths and made serious claims to Tudjman's detriment. However, he explained, the sued people only relayed the film, did their jobs as journalists, but left it up to the public to judge what was the truth in the documentary, and what was not. "The Croatian public has the right to know what is being written abroad about us, about president Tudjman, and the public is mature enough to judge for itself which is the truth and which is not," Zeravica said. (hina) lml