A former Croatian Prime Minister under investigation in a corruption case left the country today hours before parliament was to vote on lifting his immunity from prosecution.

CROATIAN war crimes suspect Ante Gotovina pleaded not guilty yesterday to seven counts of murder, persecution and expulsion of Serbs during the critical final months of the Croatian War in 1995.

In a serious blow to Croatia’s new, pro-Western Government, the nationalist party of the late President Franjo Tudjman did much better than expected in yesterday’s local elections, leading in several counties and finishing second in Zagreb, the capital.