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Ex-premier flees Croatia as authorities seek his arrest (1st Lead)
Dec 9, 2010, 13:51 GMT
Zagreb - Former Croatian premier Ivo Sanader fled the country hours after news broke that prosecutors were seeking to lift his immunity and have him arrested, the Interior Ministry in Zagreb told the 24 Casa daily on Thursday.
He crossed the border at Bregana and traveled to Slovenia, the ministry said. Parliament was expected to vote on lifting his immunity from criminal prosecution in the afternoon, paving the way for an arrest warrant.
Legislators are protected from criminal prosecution unless parliament revokes their immunity.
No details were available on the charges Sanader faces, but media have speculated for months that he is being investigated for corruption. Several of his close allies have already been charged.
Sanader unexpectedly resigned in July 2009 in the middle of his second term. His deputy, Jadranka Kosor, replaced him both as prime minister and president of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).
Sanader tried to regain leadership of the HDZ early this year, but instead, the HDZ expelled him from the party. He then retuned to the parliament as an independent legislator.
A court convicted two members of his cabinet, and authorities are prosecuting or investigating dozens of other officials and businessmen.
Croatian media have speculated that legal action against the former premier and his arrest were imminent, with prosecutors waiting only to collect enough evidence.
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