MINISTRY: ANONYMOUS REPORT ABOUT BRIGADIER ILIC IS FABRICATION

ZAGREB, Dec 28 (Hina) - A spokesman for the Croatian Defence Ministry confirmed on Thursday Brigadier Werner Ilic has been questioned at the ministry regarding an anonymous report accusing him of preparing a coup d'etat, but it has been established that the report is a fabrication. The "Slobodna Dalmacija" daily today ran an anonymous report claiming Ilic has been training members of his special unit for a coup d'etat and the establishment of new authority in Croatia, to be implemented through the assassination of leading state officials. Ilic was allegedly training his unit at the Bruska camp near Benkovac in southern Croatia. Spokesman Dusan Viro told Hina the reason for yesterday's questioning of Ilic by members of the ministry's security service was the report, for which it had been soon established that it was "a fabrication aimed at disturbing the Croatian public and compromising the reputation of the Croatian army." The ministry's security services are in charge of not only eliminating threats to the Armed Forces but protecting the dignity of the Croatian army and high-ranking officers, said Viro, expressing surprise that some Croatian media had attached undue importance to this "manipulation." (hina) rml