CORRECTING HNA0409 "MESIC'S OFFICE: PARLIAMENT V. PRESIDENT'S..."

ZAGREB, May 17 (Hina) - Please note that an error has occurred in item HNA0409 headlined "MESIC'S OFFICE: PARLIAMENT V. PRESIDENT'S BLEIBURG SPEECH SURPRISING", dating May 16. The eight paragraph reading: "According to some estimates, close to half a million Croatian soldiers and civilians were killed by partisans in the Bleiburg field in May 1945, after they had surrendered to British Allies in fear of retaliation from the partisan army. Some 200,000 were returned from the Austrian border to the then Yugoslavia. During the long marches, later known as Way of the Cross, many died of exhaustion or were killed" should correctly read: "Close to half a million of Croatian soldiers and civilians had surrendered themselves to British Allies in Austria in fear of retaliation from the partisan army. However, in line with previous arrangements with partisans, the Allies handed them over to the partisans in the Bleiburg field on May 14 and 15, 1945. Of those half a million of Croatians, many were killed in the field over those two days. Some 200,000 were returned from the Austrian border to the then Yugoslavia. During the long marches, later known as Way of the Cross, many died of exhaustion or were killed"" WE APOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCES. (hina) it