23. 05. 2002

YUGOSLAV ARMY DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN CURUVIJA MURDER

BELGRADE, May 23, 2002 - The head of Yugoslav Army Security, General Aco Tomic, has categorically denied any army involvement in the murder of publisher Slavko Curuvija, the victim's brother, Jovo Curuvija said today. Curuvija told media that in a meeting yesterday with Tomic he had asked whether Milan Pantelic was a member of the counter-intelligence service, adding that he had been given information from a man called Topencarevic that Pantelic had been the leader of the executioners. He said he had also asked whether military secret service officers had followed Security Department officers working on the case. Tomic given strongly negative answers to both questions, said Jovo Curuvija. The meeting between Tomic and Curuvija was brokered by Yugoslav President Vojislav Curuvija.