Malcic issued a statement in the wake of questions from the press about possible proceedings based on Mrs Sanader's complaint, saying that without the complainant's suggestion or consent, the human rights ombudsman did not inform the public about ongoing proceedings or make assessments on violations of rights until the proceedings were over.

Malcic said he was informing the public about what had been undertaken in this case because Mrs Sanader's complaint was published and, "unfortunately," accompanied by premature assessments and conclusions that might undermine the protection of the rights of the complainant and the Sanader family.

Malcic said the State Prosecutor's Office, the anti-corruption office USKOK, and the Police Directorate were asked to take a position on possible measures and those that would be undertaken to stop the leaking of information in this and other cases within USKOK's jurisdiction.

Malcic said the Police Directorate was also asked to take a position on police conduct in the Sanader case.

The ombudsman went on to say that he sent a letter to the Croatian Journalists Association and parliament's media committee in the wake of Mrs Sanader's "justified complaints" about the violation of her and her family's privacy by some media which he said could not be justified with public interest and freedom of expression.

Malcic said the Sanader case once again confirmed the need to set up a supervisory mechanism to efficiently protect the professionalism and ethical standards of journalism, thus contributing to the further promotion of the media and the rule of law.

Former PM Sanader is in custody in Austria, where he was arrested last month on a Croatian warrant on suspicion of abuse of office and conspiracy to syphon public funds.