OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE REQUESTS TWO-WEEK ELECTION DELAY

ZAGREB, June 10 (Hina) - Croatian opposition presidential candidate Vladimir Gotovac on Tuesday requested of the Croatian Government to stop the pre-election campaigns of all presidential candidates and set a new date for the presidential election. "Gotovac only requests a postponement of the election in order to make up for time lost due to health trouble, caused by a brutal physical attack on the part of Captain Brozovic during the 5 June pre-election rally in Pula", Stjepo Martinovic, a member of the election headquarters, told reporters. It would be best to postpone the presidential election to 29 June, Martinovic said. If the Government did not accept the postponement request, Gotovac would take part in the 15 June election as planned, he added. Gotovac's request to the Croatian Government has also been forwarded to the Croatian Election Commission, the Croatian Constitutional Court and UNTAES. (hina) ha jn 101635 MET jun 97