PM: STATE TV'S DIRECTOR APPOINTED BY RULING COALITION, NOT PAVIC

ZAGREB, Dec 11 (Hina) - The ruling six-party coalition was behind the appointment of Mirko Galic director of the national television and not media mogul Ninoslav Pavic, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Monday. He refuted allegations that Galic was appointed at a recommendation of Pavic, a co-owner of the Europapress Holding publisher. The chairwoman of parliament's Committee on Internal Affairs and National Security, Djurdja Aldesic, demanded that Galic be replaced due to his ties to Pavic, one of nine people the police suspect of attempting to assume control over most national media. Asked to comment, Racan told reporters they should until all facts in the so-called GRUPO scandal were determined. "If Pavic is established to be guilty and that Galic had some sort of illegal connection with him, there will be time to anwser that question. For the time being, these are just rumours serving no one," he said. The prime minister voiced concern over the "media war" which began after the GRUPO scandal broke out earlier last week, saying the important thing was to ensure that state organs work normally and independently in establishing every fact in the matter. He was hopeful part of the investigation would be over in the coming days and that the State Prosecutor's Office would take a stand. Commenting on demands for the replacement of Interior Minister, in the wake of the Pavic arrest, Racan said it was too early to talk about it and that "a lot was not based on facts" in taking Lucin to task. "We can talk about the liability of all connected with the GRUPO case, Interior Ministry employees and Minister Lucin included, only after the investigation is over," he said. (hina) ha