PM TO DECIDE ON RADOS'S RESIGNATION AFTER INVESTIGATION IN BLAST

ZAGREB, Nov 16 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Thursday evening said he would decide on the resignation Defence Minister Jozo Rados tendered earlier in the day, after all circumstances of the Ogulin barracks explosion and direct responsibility for that tragedy were established. "On the basis of available data I assess this was an accident which must not have happened, but an investigation will establish how it happened and who was directly responsible for it," Racan told reporters. Minister Rados today offered his resignation as a moral act immediately after the blast in the Ogulin barracks. The accident occurred at 9.18 hours Thursday, during the regular procedure of weapons-cleaning which took place in a room with explosive devices. Five soldiers sustained serious injures while 16 were lightly wounded. During its session on Thursday the Government ordered to the Defence Ministry to notify it of results of the probe as well as of measures which should be taken in response to consequences of this explosion and prevention of such tragedies in the future. On his own behalf and on behalf of the Government Ivica Racan expressed sympathy with the injured young men and their families, and voiced hope they would successfully recuperate from the wounds. (hina) jn ms