Tribunal demand rocks shaky coalition

Del Ponte has urged Racan to hand over the suspects

By Alix Kroeger

War crimes prosecutor Carla Del Ponte has increased the pressure on Croatia's shaky governing coalition.

Eighteen months ago, Croatians appeared to have broken with their nationalist past, voting out the HDZ party of the late President, Franjo Tudjman, and electing several reformist parties in its place.

Prime Minister Ivica Racan has good reason to be worried

But now Croatia's reformist government has almost run out of room for manoeuvre.

On the one side stands Ms Del Ponte, who has handed over two indictments against persons unknown for war crimes against Croatian Serbs - a controversial move, given that many Croatians see themselves as victims of what they call Serb aggression in their war to break away from the old Yugoslavia.

On the other side stands the Croatian nationalist HDZ, which consistently opposed the work of the war crimes tribunal until it was voted out of office a year and a half ago.

At least one party in the governing coalition opposes co-operation with the tribunal, putting more pressure on an already fragile alliance.

Prime Minister Ivica Racan has good reason to be worried.

HDZ comeback

In May's local elections, the HDZ made an unexpectedly strong comeback, especially in Croatia's second city, Split, which has emerged as a stronghold for the hardliners.

About 100,000 people rallied there in March to protest against war crimes charges against another Croatian general, Mirko Norac.

Under pressure, the government promised that General Norac would not be extradited to The Hague, but would instead stand trial in the local courts.

This time that kind of compromise appears to have been ruled out.