DIONA CRISIS COMMITTEE REFUTES POLICE STATEMENT

ZAGREB, Feb 16 (Hina) - The crisis committee for defending the interests of store chain 'Diona' employees responded to Monday's police statement on a protest staged by Diona employees, by forwarding a letter to Croatian Interior Minister Ivan Penic. The Zagreb police statement, signed by commissioner Jakob Bukvic read that the protesters snow-balled police officers, while some who had been under the influence of alcohol, pulled out a part of a steel fence and threw it on officers on duty. Members of the crisis committee said "two snow balls were thrown at the police, however after a warning the protesters stopped throwing snow balls". "It is a fact that none of the protesters appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, nor can the police prove it", the crisis committee's letter read. The letter added that it was true the protesters removed a part of the steel fence however, and placed it by a statue where no police officers were at the time. The crisis committee expressed its sincere sympathy to a lightly injured police officer, but stressed several protesters were also lightly injured. (hina) it mm/lml