POLICE WON'T USE FORCE IN PREVENTING RALLY ON MAIN SQUARE - PENIC

( Editorial: --> 3141 ) ZAGREB, Feb 19 (Hina) - The Interior Ministry intends to enforce the law and the decision of the Zagreb city authorities to ban a trade union rally, scheduled to take place in Zagreb's main square on Friday, Interior Minister Ivan Penic said on Thursday. Calling on all parties involved to abide by the decision of the city authorities, Penic announced that the police would steer any protesters away from Ban Jelacic Square and toward the Maksimir park, one of the locations for the rally suggested by the city authorities. Penic said the police had orders to stop people gathering in Ban Jelacic Square without using force. "To enforce this order means to do one's job with patience - even in the face of insults, the police have been instructed to remain calm and enforce the decision," Penic said. Asked to comment on rumours that access roads to Zagreb would be blocked, Penic said it was untrue and that no such attempt would be made. Meanwhile, the Rally Preparation Committee held a press conference in Zagreb regarding Friday's planned protest. "I believe that the police and those who give orders to the police are reaasonable enough and that there will be no attempt to prevent people gathering in Jelacic Square by using force," the chairman of the Association of Workers' Unions of Croatia, Boris Kunst said. In a statement, the Committee called on the police "not to erect barricades, not to use force and not to prevent the Croatian people from voicing their views on the difficult economic and social situation in Croatia". Kunst announced the protesters would gather at four points in the city, from where they would set out toward the main square around 15:00 hours. (hina) mm as mb (hina) mm as mb 191437 MET feb 98