DAILY DIDN'T GET DOCUMENT FROM MESIC OR INTERIOR MINISTRY - LUCIN

ZAGREB, Dec 5 (Hina) - Interior Minister Sime Lucin said on Tuesday a document on the creation of a monopoly in the Croatian media sphere published by Republika daily yesterday did not come from the office of the president of the republic or his ministry. During Question Morning at parliament's House of Representative, Ante Kovacevic of the Croatian Christian Democratic Union party inquired if Republika's editor-in-chief got the document from the president of state and if it was correct that the government had been in its possession for several months. Lucin answered in the negative, saying the Interior Ministry began processing the case about a month ago. He said he was at a loss as to how the police action and the publication of the document coincided. Seven people were arrested yesterday in the wake of the Republika front page article. Kovacevic also inquired when the government would start tackling issues related to workers, farmers, and pensioners. Prime Minister Ivica Racan said everything the government was doing was to that end, but that the situation was grave. First we have to clear the economic rubble to be able to build on healthy ground, he said. (hina) ha