The Hague - The International Court of Justice (ICJ) was to say Tuesday whether it has jurisdiction to rule on a claim by Croatia that Serbia committed genocide against its population in the 1991-95 war.

Croatia had filed the case against the rump Yugoslavia, consisting of Serbia and Montenegro, in 1999, while it was still run by the strongman Slobodan Milosevic.

Zagreb claims Belgrade fomented and supported a Serb insurgency following Croatia's declaration of independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Ethnic Serbs, then making up some 12 per cent of the population, had proclaimed a state of their own, which was recognized only by Belgrade, on a third of Croatia's territory.

Zagreb - The European Union's top official for enlargement urged Croatia on Wednesday to fight organized crime and corruption in order to finish talks on joining the EU by the end of 2009.

Zagreb - A village football team from third division, which have been awarding goal scorers with live lambs, was defeated on Wednesday by mighty Dinamo Zagreb in a quarter final match of Croatian national cup.

Dinamo Zagreb beat Zagora 2:1 in the first match of the quarter finals and practically secured its place in the semi final matches.

Zagora became well known in Croatia after their decision to award goalscorers with live lambs.

Zagreb - Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader on Wednesday welcomed the European Union's decision to name the target date for Croatia's completion of accession talks as its "international affirmation."

"That is that path, from first free elections, over referendum on independence, defence of the country and victory in the fatherland war, reconstruction and, finally, to international affirmation of Croatia," he said, referring to the period since his country split from former Yugoslavia in 1991.

Brussels - Croatia should be able to finish all talks on joining the EU by the end of 2009, paving the way for it to enter the bloc as early as 2011, the EU's executive body said Wednesday.

It is the first time that the European Commission has set out a timetable for the former Yugoslav republic to complete all EU accession negotiations.

Brussels - Croatia should be able to finish all talks on joining the EU by the end of 2009, paving the way for it to enter the bloc as early as 2011, the EU's executive body said Wednesday.

"Croatia is expected to reach the final phase of accession negotiations by the end of 2009 if it has taken the necessary preparatory steps," the European Commission said in an annual report on the former Yugoslav republic's progress towards membership.

It is the first time that the EU's Brussels-based executive has set out a timetable for Croatia to become the EU's 28th member since the Adriatic state became a candidate for membership in 2004.