HAGUE TRIBUNAL DROPS CHARGES AGAINST BOSNIAN CROAT SUSPECT

( Editorial: --> 9759 ) THE HAGUE, Dec 19 (Hina) - The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague ordered on Friday that Bosnian Croat war crimes suspect Marinko Katava be freed from the tribunal's custody. This decision granted a request by the prosecutor's office that charges against Katava should be dropped for lack of evidence. Mark Harmon of the prosecutor's office told Trial Chamber II, chaired by Judge Antonio Cassese, that witnesses confirmed Katava's alibi that he had not been on the location described in the indictment. Defence attorney Mario Nobilo supported the prosecutor's motion on behalf of Katava's defence counsel Petar Pavkovic. Noting that Katava had been in detention for more than two months, Cassese expressed hope that in the future the prosecutor would respond quickly with regard to basic issues such as freedom of the accused. Nobilo, who represented Katava on Friday, said that Katava should be released on Friday evening. He added that two other suspects, Pero Skopljak and Ivan Santic, should also be released this evening. Nobilo said the three men were expected to leave the Netherlands for Zagreb on Saturday. (hina) vm 191750 MET dec 97