"I'm not forming a parliamentary group. I formed one long ago, the (ruling) HDZ," Sanader told reporters, but would not comment on Matkovic' move, saying he had nothing to do with it.

"That's her prerogative. I don't want to comment on it," Sanader said, reiterating that he had no intention of toppling the government and the parliamentary majority which he had created.

Sanader once again refuted media claims that he had received money from former HDZ treasurer Mladen Barisic, and reiterated that he was not afraid of any investigation or testimony.

"I'm not afraid of anyone's testimony, because everything that is being said and has been said in all these months simply isn't true. But it's very interesting that Vjesnik was the first to publish it, and we know who the director of Vjesnik is, Seks's nephew," Sanader said, alluding to the nephew of Vladimir Seks, the deputy speaker of parliament and a senior HDZ official.

He interpreted the fact that he was unable to discuss a report on the State Attorney's Office (DORH) in parliament yesterday as fear in the HDZ ranks.

Asked if he expected that to happen again in future parliamentary discussions, Sanader said that would mean that the HDZ was still afraid. Asked if they had reason to be afraid, he said "they probably do."

Sanader said he wanted to warn in yesterday's discussion about the existence of two State Attorney's Offices, the official one and the unofficial one which he said was under political influence.

"Of course there's not a second State Attorney's Office, but it does exist in the endeavours of some politicians and, with the help of some media, it is creating a climate of persecution, witch hunts, pressure on the judiciary, on the DORH, on the police, to follow political dictate. Well, that won't happen in Croatia," said Sanader.

Asked if he had confidence in State Attorney Mladen Bajic, he said he did.

Also today, Parliament Deputy Speaker Josip Friscic said he did not believe that Sanader planned to overthrow the ruling majority or form a parliamentary group.

Asked about Matkovic's announcement that she would request the reactivation of her MP's mandate, following Seks's earlier statement that she was not entitled to do so, Friscic said there was a procedure for the reactivation of a mandate that was equal for all and that no one was entitled to revoke a mandate.