Croatia's police say sorry

CROATIAN POLICE officers swallowed their pride yesterday and apologised for detaining a web activist who put up posters calling for an anti-government rally – although the authorities denied any political motivation for the act.

The detained man was part of a 80,000 member group on social notworking site Facebook. The group called for anti-governmental rallies in several different towns.

National police chief Vladimir Faber told a news conference yesterday that, "Posting posters does not constitute a disturbance of public order."

He also said that some of the police officers involved in the arrest would face disciplinary action.

Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said, "No one in Croatia can be detained or arrested because of a different opinion or because of a protest against my or any other political view. My main task as a Prime Minister is to defend that right."

Almost a week ago police questioned a member of the Social Democrats, the main opposition party, after he launched a group called "I bet I can find 5,000 Facebookers who dislike Sanader."

Police said they had acted in this way because the group had posted a photo-montage portrait of Sanader in a Nazi uniform.

"I asked for a report on police actions and I want appropriate sanctions if police did not respect regulations," said Sanader in his statement. µ

L'Inq
Reuters