Belgrade, August 28 - "Vojislav Seselj's statement that his party (Serbian Radical Party) had reliable information that Momir Gavrilovic was under State Security surveillance on the day he was killed and that the order was given by State Security deputy head Zoran Mijatovic is a loathsome lie", said a statement issued by State Security head Goran Petrovic.

"I strictly maintain that Momir Gavrilovic was not under State Security surveillance on the day he was killed, or on any other occasion over the last seven months while I performed the duties of State Security head. I also assert that no surveillance operations carried out in Belgrade between January and August were carried out under the title "Gavran" (Raven)", the statement said.

"The statement is based on a flimsy logic alleging that reporting on Gavrilovic's surveillance was entitled "Gavran" since Curuvija's was "Curan" (Turkey-cock). It is aimed at discrediting and compromising the work of the State Security Service and making the public believe that current State Security officials are criminals and accomplices to crime, which is not true", the statement said.

"Considering all above-mentioned insinuations and false claims made by Vojislav Seselj, the State Security Service will request that criminal charges be brought against him for spreading misinformation. State Security deputy head Zoran Mijatovic, who was on vacation when Gavrilovic was killed, is to file a civil suit charging Seselj with slander", the statement said.