INTERIOR MINISTRY REFUTES YUGOSLAV PRESS CLAIMS ON INCIDENT IN DANUBE REGION

DANUBE REGION ( Editorial: --> 2232 ) ZAGREB, June 18 (Hina) - The Croatian Interior Ministry "most resolutely refutes all claims in the Yugoslav press aimed at turning the investigation of the incident in the Croatian Danubian region into a direction which suits the Yugoslav side best," Slavko Rako of the Croatian Interior Ministry's public relations office said on Thursday. Rako was commenting on some articles in the Yugoslav press concerning a recent incident in the Croatian Danube River region in which two Croatian police officers were killed. The Yugoslav press claims that Croatian police opened fire without prior checking and tendentiously points out differences in the behaviour of the Croatian and Yugoslav police forces. Croatian police are also suspected of alleged blackmail connected with the arrest of Yugoslav citizens who were caught while poaching. The Yugoslav press further mentions the possibility that the incident might be linked to the alleged blackmail. The Croatian Interior Ministry has expected the Yugoslav side to speculate with the incident in various ways, Rako said. "The Interior Ministry is conducting a comprehensive operational- criminal and criminal-technical procedure and once the investigation is completed it will inform the public about its findings," Rako added. (hina) rml 181845 MET jun 98