22.44% OF VOTERS CAST BALLOTS BY 11 A.M. AT CRO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

ZAGREB, Jan 24 (Hina) - A little over a fifth, namely 22.44 percent of registered voters in Croatia cast their ballots at today's presidential election by 11 a.m., National Electoral Commission chairman Marijan Ramuscak told reporters in Zagreb shortly after noon on Monday. The data refer to 5,263 of 6,477 polling stations, and do not refer to voting abroad. Today's electoral turnout is about two percent lower than at January 3 parliamentary elections, when a fourth, namely 24.05 percent of the electoral body cast their ballot by 11 a.m. Ramuscak ascribed this fact to the snowstorms which hit Croatia in the last couple of days, obstructing movement. The highest electoral turnout, 29.58 percent, was registered in Virovitica-Podravina County. Following are Istra County with 28.86 percent, Varazdin County 27.23 percent, and Koprivnica-Krizevci County with 26.65 percent. The lowest electoral turnout, a little over 15 percent, was registered in Sibenik-Knin County, Zadar County, and Vukovar- Srijem County. Ramuscak pointed out this was due to bad weather. Until noon there have been no reports that any of the 6,477 polling stations has not been opened, and the National Electoral Commission has not received any complaint regarding the voting process. New data on the electoral turnout will be released at 5 p.m. (hina) ha