Several hundred people dissatisfied with the present economic and political situation in Croatia rallied in Cvjetni Trg square in central Zagreb on Saturday evening, demanding the resignation of the government and immediate elections.
The protesters then began their march through the city centre, chanting slogans such as "We want elections" and "Down with thieves" and carrying banners saying "We don't need leaders to decide - Direct democracy", "I love Croatia, not EU" and "We want to work and to control our work". They were soon joined by many citizens, their number swelling to an estimated 3,000.
The protest, just like the previous ones that have been staged in the capital every other day in the past three weeks, was organised through the online social network Facebook.
Protest leader Ivan Pernar was detained by the police for violating a court order that banned him from accessing the city's main square, Trg Bana Josipa Jelacica. Pernar was released after being questioned at a police station, and the police said they would press charges.
On February 25, following the second anti-government demonstration in Zagreb, Pernar was ordered by a court not to come close to St Mark's Square and the streets leading to it. The square is the seat of the government and parliament and public assemblies there are banned by law.
Anti-government protests were also held in the coastal towns of Rijeka and Zadar and in the eastern towns of Virovitica, Koprivnica, and Slavonski Brod. An estimated 400 people demonstrated in Rijeka, 200 in Zadar, 50 in Virovitica, 100 in Koprivnica, and 30 in Slavonski Brod.
No incidents were reported. Major protests were announced for next Saturday, March 19.
