Attorney Goran Suic, who left the prison first, reiterated to the press that he would appeal the detention order tomorrow, adding that Sanader would most likely be deposed at USKOK headquarters, although the location remained uncertain.

Attorney Cedo Prodanovic, who left the prison an hour later, said Sanader would certainly be questioned at USKOK.

Asked if they were considering the possibility of Sanader being placed under house arrest, Prodanovic said this rarely worked out in practice. "For now, we are resorting to an appeal, confident of its success, and if it fails, we will look at other options."

He confirmed speculation that another attorney would join the defence team but only when the first in a series of possible indictments was filed. Asked when that was expected, he said the filing of the indictment depended on the prosecutor's office, but that the first one could be expected towards the end of the summer.

The attorneys said Sanader was feeling well but that the leg he injured while in custody in Austria still troubled him.

Sanader has not complained about the conditions at Remetinec and as of yesterday, he has a TV and is closely following how the media are covering his case, the attorneys said.

They also conveyed his message that family and friends need not visit him as yet, as "he wants to protect them from media pressure."

The attorneys said yesterday that Sanader had come to Croatia voluntarily to participate in criminal proceedings and that he had not come on a revenge mission.

USKOK suspects him of abuse of office, conspiracy to commit crime, and bribe-taking. He was arrested in Austria in December and was extradited to Croatia on Monday. While in custody in Salzburg, he dismissed all suspicions about him and announced "an active defence."