SDP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE HOLDS NEWS CONFERENCE IN RIJEKA

RIJEKA, June 2 (Hina) - Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Zdravko Tomac said on Monday that his prospects for winning the June 15 presidential elections were much higher than he had thought at the beginning of the campaign thanks to direct communication with citizens on the campaign trail. Tomac told a news conference in the northern Adriatic port city of Rijeka that media, and particularly Croatian Television, did not provide enough space to him and another opposition candidate, Vlado Gotovac of the Social Liberal Party (HSLS), to criticise the current government and president. "As a result of hatred produced by the governing party with the support of the media under its control, I have had very unpleasant experiences during the campaign and I am compelled to file suits against the HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union) party, Croatian Television and Slobodna Dalmacija (daily) for inciting the hatred," Tomac said. Tomac called on citizens to turn out for the elections and vote for "the democratic alternative." (hina) vm mm 021816 MET jun 97