ANTE KARIC TESTIFIES FOR PROSECUTION IN 'ORESKOVIC AND OTHERS' CASE

ANTE KARIC TESTIFIES FOR PROSECUTION IN 'ORESKOVIC AND OTHERS' CASE RIJEKA, Oct 5 (Hina) - Another two witnesses for the prosecution were interviewed at the Rijeka County Court on Thursday in a pretrial investigation of Tihomir Oreskovic and another four Gospic residents suspected of early 1990s war crimes against Serb civilians. One of the two witnesses was the government's commissioner for the central region of Lika in 1991, Ante Karic. Contrary to announcements, neither court president Slavko Petric not investigating judge Sajonara Culina gave statements about today's hearings. Witness Karic told reporters outside the court in the northern Adriatic city the hearing had been fair and professional. It focused on a letter Karic forwarded top Croatian officials in 1991 in connection with events in the central town of Gospic area. This was the beginning of the Homeland Defence War, Croatia's war of independence from the former Yugoslav federation. The defence told reporters they were satisfied with both today's and yesterday's two testimonies, saying not one charged their clients. Commenting on yesterday's claim by court president Petric that one female witness said on the basis of a newspaper photograph that it might include the person who took her husband away, never to be seen again, first indictee Tihomir Oreskovic's attorney Zeljko Dumancic said "there was no recognition" that would be admissible in court. The defence said witness Karic had also spoken about other key events from 1991, namely the creation of the Croatian armed forces and police. They assessed his testimony might have historic importance. Attorney Dumancic said Karic offered a copy of his letter which the defence would compare to a letter "from the famed yellow envelope" and perhaps request to interview the witness again. Dumancic said his client Oreskovic probably would not be returned to the county court prison until the end of the week as he was still being treated for high blood sugar at Zagreb's prison infirmary. Attorney Mirko Ruzic said second indictee Ivica Ruzic also remained at Zagreb's prison infirmary due to a poor physical and mental condition. He is still being examined to see whether he will be able to stand trial. According to unofficial reports, the second witness interviewed today is a member of the interior ministry, as is the third, whose testimony had been announced and later postponed. The pretrial investigation of the Gospic suspects, arrested last month, resumes on Friday with testimonies from another two witnesses. (hina) ha