Eleven Croatian international sports stars, including the Wimbledon tennis winner Goran Ivanisevic, urged the reformist government in Croatia to protect army generals who might be wanted as suspects by the UN war crimes tribunal.
In an open letter, carried by the state news agency Hina, the 11, including six members of the national soccer team, said they were "dismayed by the government's decision to hand over two generals to the Hague tribunal".
The tribunal last week demanded the prompt arrest of two suspects named in sealed indictments. Media named the suspects as retired Gen Ante Gotovina and Gen Rahim Ademi.
"We do not understand politics, but we are reasonable people hurt by injustice. Croatia was the victim [in the war] and its soldiers and generals were heroes," the letter said.
The signatories included, AC Milan soccer star and former Croatia captain Zvonimir Boban and Middlesbrough striker Alen Boksic. All had been in the Adriatic city of Split on Tuesday to take part in a wild homecoming party for Ivanisevic after he clinched the Wimbledon title.
Their letter came after the coalition cabinet voted to comply with the tribunal at the weekend, with four ministers of the Social Liberal party resigning over the issue. The Prime Minister, Mr Ivica Racan, demanded a confidence vote in the government, which will take place on Sunday.