FED: Downer tells Yugoslavs spy claims preposterous

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-1999
FED: Downer tells Yugoslavs spy claims preposterous

A furious Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER has denounced the detention of two Australian
aid workers as outrageous and hauled in Yugoslavia's ambassador to demand their immediate
release.

Mr DOWNER says a televised confession to spying by one of the aid workers, STEVE PRATT, was
a preposterous fabrication.

He's also lashed out at local media over reports Mr PRATT spied in Iraq for the United
Nations.

After meeting today with DRAGAN DRAGOJLOVIC, Mr DOWNER says he left the ambassador in no
doubt about Australia's feelings on the matter.

He says he's told Mr DRAGOJLOVIC that the accusations against Mr PRATT are simply
preposterous.



CARE Australia aid workers STEVE PRATT and PETER WALLACE have been detained by Serb
authorities since March 31.

AAP RTV ss/sc/lm/jn

KEYWORD: KOSOVO CARE DOWNER (CANBERRA)

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