HEBRANG REFUTES REUTERS ALLEGATION ON CRO GENERAL IN KOSOVO

( Editorial: --> 9586 ) ZAGREB, June 8 (Hina) - Croatian Defence Minister Andrija Hebrang Sunday most strongly refuted the allegation in a June 7 Reuters news item which stated that the Kosovo Liberation Army was led by a general of the Croatian army who had fought against Serbs in Herzegovina. "The Croatian armed forces are in no way, either indirectly or directly, involved in the Kosovo conflict", Hebrang told Hina. "(The Croatian army) strictly abides by Croatian state policy, according to which it will never get involved in events outside Croatian territory. An individual within the armed forces not complying with these directives would have committed the most serious offence which, of course, is subject to sanctions", the Defence Minister said. (hina) ha 081053 MET jun 98