ZAGREB, Oct 20: The Croatian army has signed an agreement to make it easier for Muslims serving in the force to practice their religion, a Muslim community leader in the majority Roman Catholic country said on Thursday.

The agreement, signed by the army and representatives of the Muslim community for some 50 practicing Muslims in the force, entitles them among other things to an adapted menu and exemption from heavy tasks during the month of Ramazan, the Croatian community president Sevko Omerbasic told AFP.

The Muslim soldiers will also be able to take leave on the main religious feast days and perform the main Muslim midday prayers every Friday.

From now on an imam may also be present at the ceremony when a Muslim takes the military oath.

The agreement does not provide for a Muslim cleric to be appointed to the military yet because Nato standards permit this post to be created when there are 1,000 or more soldiers who would benefit.

Some 60,000 Muslims live in Croatia, where over 80 per cent of the population of 4.4 million are Roman Catholic.—AFP