02 11 2007 Berane _ Montenegrin journalist and Balkan Insight contributor Tufik Softic was beaten up on Thursday evening in front of his home in the northern town of Berane.
Softic has been receiving treatment in Berane hospital for concussion and bruises to his head and arms, according to the doctor treating him, Milorad Bakic.
Softic was attacked around 2030 hours (1930 gmt), in his garden just after he parked his car.
“I stepped out of car and two hooded attackers jumped on me. They started beating me with baseball bats”, Softic told Balkan Insight on Friday morning.
He said he did not recognize his hooded attackers.
“I received some threats, the last one three or four months ago, but I do not know who is behind this”, Softic said. “Anyway, I do not want to prejudge the investigation”.
Police are looking for the attackers.
“We do not have much information about the attackers, as Softic did not recognize them, and does not know what could be the motive for the assault”, Novo Veljic, the chief of Berane police, told Balkan Insight on Friday.
“We are checking the alibis of several persons”.
Softic, a Balkan Insight contributor and correspondent for the daily “Republika”, has been working as a journalist for over 20 years.
He has contributed to many Montenegrin media outlets, and was director of Radio Berane.
This is second attack on a journalist in Montenegro in the last two months, and the third in the past three years.
Two months ago, Zeljko Ivanovic, the director of Montenegrin daily “Vijesti” was beaten up, while in May 2004, the director and editor-in-chief of the daily “Dan”, Dusko Jovanovic, was killed in front of his office.
Two men were arrested in connection with the attack on Ivanovic, while the murderers of Jovanovic have not been found. (birn)
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