From the Australian:

Croatian PM wades into pro-Nazi row
From correspondents in Zagreb
June 03, 2008

CROATIAN Prime minister Ivo Sanader today condemned the display of World War II pro-Nazi Ustasha regime symbols at a rock concert, as a rights group prepared a lawsuit against a controversial singer.

“What is happening is wrong. The Ustasha symbols have to be condemned. That regime doesn’t deserve to be worshipped in Croatia,” Mr Sanader was quoted as saying by the website of the local Jutarnji List newspaper.

“The fact that all that is linked to this singer is regrettable. He should engage himself in an action to end all that,” Mr Sanader said.

Zagreb’s decision to host a concert by Marko Perkovic - known by his stage name Thompson - who has often identified with the country’s World War II pro-Nazi regime, angered the Margel Institute enough for its head to seek prosecution.

“We will file a lawsuit against singer Marko Perkovic Thompson and the city of Zagreb over several violations of the law banning discrimination and hatred,” Alen Budaj said.

Some 60,000 people attended the concert on Saturday in Zagreb’s main square, organised by veterans of Croatia’s 1991-1995 war of independence from the former Yugoslavia.

The Croatian branch of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights issued a complaint ahead of the concert, notably over a song that starts with a verse used during the pro-Nazi regime.

According to Mr Budaj, the symbols of the World War II Nazi-allied Ustasha regime were displayed during the concert by several youngsters, who were also using Nazi salute.

Before the concert a group of youths also shouted anti-Serb slogans and songs glorifying the Ustasha regime, according to local media.

Mr Budaj said that his NGO would file the lawsuit within two weeks against Zagreb “for having allowed the organisation of the concert and not preventing pro-Nazi behaviour”.

“We will also sue Mr Perkovic for having sung a piece starting with the official salute of the pro-Nazi period,” he said.

Perkovic, 41, and most of his fans were dressed all in black, the colour of the uniform of Croatia’s fascist Ustasha regime.

Police said there were no incidents during the concert and they noted no displays of banned symbols.

Earlier this month Perkovic had two concerts cancelled in Switzerland because his lyrics breached anti-racism laws.

Another concert due in June in Austria was cancelled for the same reason.

The Ustasha killed hundreds of thousands of Serbs, Jews, anti-fascist Croatians, Roma and others in Croatia’s concentration camps.

Croatian nationalists and right-wing politicians revere the 41-year-old singer as an icon.