Jandrokovic was commenting on the statement made earlier in the day by the head of the Croatian disabled war veterans' association HVIDR-a, Josip Djakic.

"I heard the statement by Mr Djakic and I can understand it. It's emotional," Jandrokovic said after a government meeting. "If the withdrawal of our ambassador from any city could help Mr Purda, we would do so."

"We will use all legal means available and will follow developments and act in the interests of Croatia and of Mr Purda," Jandrokovic said.

Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor met on Thursday with one of Vukovar's defence commanders, Branko Borkovic, local wartime defence secretary Danijel Rehak, and the wartime government commissioner for Vukovar, Marin Vidic, to discuss the status of veterans.

According to a statement issued by the government press service, Kosor said that the government was doing its best to protect veterans' dignity, stressing that no one had a right to politicise the role of veterans.

Also discussed was the Purda case. The government said that it was doing its utmost to ensure that he returned to Croatia and to prevent similar cases from happening in the future.

Borkovic said after the meeting that he expected Bosnia and Herzegovina to turn down Serbia's extradition request for Purda and to release him.

"We want all charges against people sought by Serbia dropped. We think Serbia is violating international law, and Bosnia and Herzegovina should reject all requests by Serbia and release Purda," Borkovic told reporters outside the Cabinet building.

"This is about a man who was held in a concentration camp and about people who were saving and not killing the wounded," Borkovic said.