Speaking on Croatian Television, Milanovic said Polancec had made grave accusations and that since the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) had not proposed the establishment of a commission of inquiry "as the best method of establishing the truth, of clearing the HDZ's name, of not endangering Croatia's accession to the European Union," the SDP would do so.

Milanovic said the commission was the "best and most transparent way of establishing the truth, as two sides are saying completely different things about very delicate issues regarding human rights."

Asked who he believed the most, Milanovic said he believed in an objective and transparent process that would establish the truth before the public.

He said the idea to convene a session of the National Security Council was good, but that this was an internal, closed body.

Milanovic went on to say that he was "very disturbed by the statement that (SDP MP Slavko) Linic and Polancec were making arrangements that Polancec would help the SDP win (elections), while Linic would have him acquitted." He said such statements came from people who were assuring European officials that Croatia had an independent judiciary.

"All that" points to huge disturbances in the order, Milanovic said, adding that whatever the truth was , it was not good, especially not attempts to suggest that political parties could influence the judiciary.

On Friday, Polancec said Police Director Oliver Grbic warned him in September 2009 that a series of anonymous police reports had been filed against politicians of the HDZ and that the HDZ leadership should respond by filing police reports against opposition leaders.

Grbic yesterday dismissed Polancec's allegations, describing them as an attempt to destabilise the police, their director and the Interior Ministry.