OVER 1,000 FARMERS PROTEST IN SLAVONSKI BROD-POSAVINA COUNTY

SLAVONSKI BROD, June 26 (Hina) - Over a thousand farmers have been blocking main roads in Slavonski Brod-Posavina County (eastern Croatia) by tractors, combine harvesters, and other items of the farm machinery since 10.00 am Saturday. The traffic on the Zagreb-Lipovac highway has been impeded near the village of Sikirevci due to this protest organised by the Croatian Farmers' Association. Besides, a road in Vrpolje, a road for Nova Gradiska and Pozega as well as a road near Nova Gradiska have been blocked. Traffic cannot run near Svilaj at the border crossing over the Sava river for Bosnia-Herzegovina. Many cars are waiting at Sikirevci on the Zagreb-Lipovac highway as well at Svilaj for being able to proceed further. Policemen are regulating the traffic, showing drivers to use other directions. The President of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Zlatko Tomcic, visited protesters at almost all points where they erected blockades. According to Vice President of the Farmers' Association, Darko Grivicic, demonstrations will last as long as the Government and Premier Zlatko Matesa do not invite them for talks or a proposed agreement is not signed. Farmers insist that the purchase price for this year's wheat be 1.32 kuna per kilogram and that the Government pay peasants what it owes to them. (hina) ms