CAR RUNS INTO 'DIOKOM' PROTESTERS WHO BLOCK A SPLIT STREET

SPLIT, Aug 31 (Hina) - Workers of the Split-based company 'Diokom', mounting their blockade of streets in this southern city to attract the public attention to their problems, on Thursday stopped the traffic on two spots. On this third consecutive day of their protest rallies two incidents happened. A car with Split licence plates ran into a blockade the protesters had set up in the 'Hrvatske Mornarice' street. Five demonstrators requested medical help after the incident. Two workers sustained light injuries, while others suffered from a shock. Some ten minutes after this, at the same spot, the driver and another passenger who had been in a car with Vukovar licence plates, went out of the car and one of them attacked the protesters. A scuffle broke out between them and the attackers from the car got a worse deal. Fortunately, this incident had no serious consequences. The incidents were reported to local police, Split-Dalmatia County police spokesman told Hina. An investigation is under way. Employees with the Diokom have been carrying out 45-minute rallies protesting against the current situation in this company which has had to file for bankruptcy due to its huge debts. Diokom, which used to be a leading company in Dalmatia, employs 2,308 workers. Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic is in favour of the company's survival. He has held a few meetings with the management, trustee and workers so far, and is expected to come to Split tomorrow to continue with these efforts. (hina) ms