Speaking to reporters before a government meeting, Karamarko dismissed as an "inappropriate exaggeration" the opposition demand for him to address members of Parliament considering "a state of emergency" in the capital.

Karamarko said that those detained would be released successively and taken before a magistrate.

The head of the Zagreb branch of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party and Foreign Minister, Gordan Jandrokovic, said it was important that the protest should stop, blaming it on Mayor Milan Bandic and the ruling coalition in the city led by the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

"I find it terribly hypocritical and unacceptable to see SDP deputies, who have passed the decision regarding Varsavska, protesting. It's hypocritical, unacceptable and irresponsible," Jandrokovic said, reiterating that the HDZ wanted the matter resolved institutionally.

Construction Minister Marina Matulovic Dropulic said that, according to her information, all the documents relating to the construction project in Varsavska Street had been adopted according to law.

"The City Assembly is completely independent in decision making. We as the ministry have no authority to change or challenge the plans," Matulovic Dropulic said.

Later on, addressing an emergency press conference, Karamarko said that the police should not be expected to take part in civil disobedience. He said he had discussed the protest with President Ivo Josipovic and informed him that the police had been requested by the city government to provide security at the construction site in Varsavska Street.

"We acted according to the rules of our service, and all the police officers were advised to treat the people according to law," Karamarko said, adding that the police could not turn down a request from the local government to enforce the law.

Meanwhile, non-governmental organisations expressed their dissatisfaction with how the police treated peaceful protesters, saying that the police had overstepped their authority and demanding Karamarko's resignation.

Gordan Bosanac of the Human Rights House said that 113 people had been detained during the protest, adding that this was the largest number of people detained in a single day in the last ten years.

Jagoda Munic of Green Action blamed the police for causing chaos by sealing off the centre of the city. She urged all those responsible, first and foremost Mayor Milan Bandic, to step down.

The City Office for Physical Planning said in a statement that the City of Zagreb as the investor in the project had duly obtained all the necessary permits under the law to carry out the project in Varsavska Street.