Protests

Anti-government rallies held in five cities

16.03.2011 u 22:48

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Anti-government protest rallies were held in Split, Dubrovnik, Rijeka, Pula and Karlovac on Wednesday, but the turnout was low.

In Split, there was a verbal clash outside the seat of the Split-Makarska Archdiocese between dozens of protesters who were criticising the Church and members of the "I Love Croatia" association, who objected to that. The protesters criticised the bishops for their objections to the protests, while members of the association said they were not against the protests, but that "the Church and religious feelings should not be insulted". Police had to intervene.

The first anti-government in Dubrovnik drew about 100 protesters who were shouting against the Jadranka Kosor Cabinet and the ruling HDZ party, demanding early elections.

The anti-government rally in Karlovac drew about 200 protesters, while the rally in Rijeka drew about 70 protesters. They lit candles in front of a fountain on Jelacic Square, donated by the Japanese city of Kawasaki, and observed a minute of silence for the Japanese people in the wake of the recent earthquake and tsunami disaster.

The anti-government rally in Pula drew only about 20 protesters, who announced a new rally for Saturday. They said today's poor turnout was due to the rain.