FOUR PARTY BLOCK LEADERS EXPECT MESIC'S VICTORY AT ELECTION

ZAGREB, Feb 7 (Hina) - After the early returns from polling stations set up for Croatia's presidential run-off ballot arrived in the election headquarters of a contestant, Stipe Mesic, leaders of the three parties - HNS, LS and IDS - that make up the four party block which supports Mesic's candidature for the presidential election, told reporters that they had been expecting Mesic's victory but they were surprised with a ten-percent margin in favour of Mesic. Radimir Cacic, the President of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) whose member is Mesic, told Hina that according to available data the new President of Croatia would be Stipe Mesic defeating Drazen Budisa, the candidate of the SDP/HSLS coalition, in Monday's presidential run-off ballot. It is within our expectations but we have not expected that the victory will be so convincing concerning disinclination which some media showed to Mesic, Cacic added. Assessing that the final result would show it was a narrower race, President of Liberal Party (LS), Vlado Gotovac, said he had taken more active part in the campaigning recently since some media had started to try to damage Mesic's candidature. It was my duty as being a liberal, democrat and primarily citizen to protect every candidate from defamation, he added. The Istrian Democratic Alliance (IDS) President Ivan Jakovcic forecast that after the counting of all ballots the margin would be narrower between Mesic's and Budisa's points but the victory of Mesic, however, would be enough convincing. I am happy to see Mesic's victory but I am more happier to see that the presidential election has shown that democracy has won in Croatia, Jakovcic said. (hina) ms