JUDGES CONSIDER WITHDRAWAL OF INDICTMENTS AGAINST 2 CROATS

( Editorial: --> 9695 ) THE HAGUE, Dec 19 (Hina) - A panel of judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) said it would decide on the prosecution's request to withdraw indictments against two Bosnian Croats. Judge Fouad Riad, representing Panel 1, said a decision would be reached on Friday afternoon, after which Pero Skopljak and Ivan Santic should be released from detention. The prosecution on Friday requested the withdrawal of indictments against four Croats. Two panels of judges are to decide on the issue, each in charge of the cases of two Croats. Attorney Anto Nobilo said on behalf of the defence attorneys of Santic and Skopljak, Ivan Kern and Jadranka Sokolovic-Glumac respectively, that the defence was informed about the prosecutor's opinion that Skopljak and Santic had not committed crimes which were in the jurisdiction of the ICTY. (hina) lm 191609 MET dec 97