A support rally for Croatian war veterans, organised by Homeland War associations from the town of Kastela, began in the southern Adriatic city of Split around noon on Sunday.
According to the first estimates, about 1,000 protesters have come to support veterans and Tihomir Purda, a Croatian war veteran in custody in Bosnia awaiting a State Court ruling on Serbia's extradition plea over war crimes charges.
They are carrying banners saying "Prosecute thieves, not veterans," "We are veterans, not conquerors," "I love Croatia, not the EU" and "Stop the prosecution of Croatian veterans" as well as posters of Tito, Lenin and Stalin crossed with a death's head.
The rally's coordinator, Zeljko Strizic, last night called on the protesters to be civilised and dignified and not cause incidents.
The rally will be held in support of the "Croatian knights" and in protest against the government, which does not listen to the people or care about it, Strize said on behalf of the organiser.
