Croatian defense minister dismissed after causing serious car accident

ZAGREB, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic announced on Saturday to dismiss Defense Minister Mario Banozic who was involved in a serious car accident at Vinkovci and left him seriously injured and the other driver in the car accident killed.

"In these circumstances, which are truly extraordinary due to this serious traffic accident, I relieved Banozic of his duties as minister of defense," Plenkovic said, adding that he has authorized Defense Ministry State Secretary Zdravko Jakop to perform all tasks so that the Ministry of Defense can function normally.