FOUR HEAVILY, 11 LIGHTLY INJURED IN POLICE-SOCCER FANS CONFLICTS

ZAGREB, May 20 (Hina) - The result of Wednesday's conflicts between police and soccer fans in Zagreb are one heavily injured and five lightly injured police officers, three heavily injured and six lightly injured citizens, and damage to nine police and 12 private vehicles, Interior Minister Ivan Penic said on Thursday. The life of a citizen who was hit with a stone in the head, is in danger. A soccer match was played Wednesday between two traditional rivals -- Croatia from Zagreb and Hajduk from split. The riots were started by Bad Blue Boys, Croatia's fans, Penic said. Police apprehended 72 persons, and an investigation is underway, he said. Penic said a group of fans, who had no intention of going to watch the game, stoned a bus carrying Hajduk's fans -- Torcida -- before the start of the game. Some time later they attacked police officers who were securing traffic towards the stadium. A group of fans who did not attend the game, attacked the police officers after the game and stoned police vehicles, Penic said. Reporters used the opportunity to ask Penic why the police prevented Nama employees to approach Zagreb's square on which the government building is, although they had announced their peaceful protest Penic said the request for the protest had been formulated in line with an outdated law from 1991. The Zagreb city leadership, having seen there would be 2,000 people at the rally, decided to forbid the protest, he said. (hina) lml jn