More than seven thousand people have signed a petition in the Croatian capital, Zagreb, expressing support for a former bank clerk, who disclosed details of the financial affairs of President Tudjman's wife.

The petition, organised by the opposition Liberal Party, congratulates the clerk, Ankica Lepej, for revealing that Mrs Tudjman deposited more than one-hundred-and-forty thousand dollars in the bank in March.

Mrs Lepej, who was dismissed from her job and faces prosecution, said she wanted to protest against government corruption in Croatia.

Mrs Tudjman says the money is royalties from her husband's writings.