THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF KNIN LIBERATION MARKED

( Editorial: --> 1904 ) KNIN, Aug 5 (Hina) - The third anniversary of the liberation of Knin and Homeland Gratitude Day was marked on Wednesday. Wreaths were laid at the town's cemetery in memory of all who sacrificed their lives for Croatia's freedom by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman's envoy MP Drago Krpina, the commander of the third military district of the Croatian Armed Forces Major General Mirko Norac, Knin Mayor Josip Odak, and representatives of the Croatian Homeland War Invalids Association, the Croatian Homeland War Veterans' Association and the Knin police department. On August 5, 1995, Knin was liberated in the Storm military operation, which took just 84 hours to liberate some 11,000 square metres of Croatian territory from four years of occupation by Serbian rebels. The law on holidays which the Croatian National Parliament passed in April 1996 stipulated that August 5 should be proclaimed a national holiday, Homeland Gratitude Day. (hina) ha 051710 MET aug 98