Croatia Defense Chief Charged in Rebellion Plot
Croatia’s defense minister and seven other people were formally charged by a military prosecutor Tuesday with planning an armed rebellion against Yugoslavia.
An army statement said that Martin Spegelj and the other Croatians, including two army officers, had masterminded the plan by importing arms to create an independent Croatian army.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Spegelj has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He is hiding out, reportedly in the Croatian capital of Zagreb, and is protected by dozens of security guards.
The army ordered Croatian authorities and army troops to arrest Spegelj in January and again this month, but the Croatians defied the order.
His seven co-defendants were arrested last month after the broadcast of a secret army film purporting to show Spegelj and the others plotting to kill army officers.
The film also accused them of illegally importing arms from Hungary. The Hungarian government has confirmed the sale of about 10,000 submachine guns to a Croatian trading firm.
Tens of thousands of Croatians staged anti-army demonstrations in Zagreb on Sunday, demanding the release of the Croatian suspects and claiming that the federal military wants to quash the republic’s sovereignty moves.
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