PROTESTS STAGED IN ALJMAS

ALJMAS, April 30 (Hina) - "It is sad that after seven long years in exile and the return we all so wanted, today we do not even have the basic living conditions in Aljmas," protesters in Aljmas said on Friday. The protest was organised by the youth of this eastern Croatian town. Our biggest problem is that we do not have water for days, Matija Zoric, president of Aljmas youth, said, warning the water supply problem had been present from the first day of return. Telephones have not been connected, the health clinic is not operative, electricity supply is irregular and there are also problems with the supply of groceries. They warned the work on reconstructed houses was of low quality. Erdut municipal head, Stevan Babic, said their "dissatisfaction was justified although the local self-government was doing everything possible to make normal living conditions possible". Osijek-Baranja county Prefect Branimir Glavas told Hina the "protests are justified because the residents of Aljmas have the right to normal living conditions". He added the problems should be solved by the local self- government, but they hod it most important to "have big salaries and large number of employees". (hina) lml jn