May 29, 2015
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Over 100 Croatian war veterans on Friday remained inside a Catholic church where they took shelter after police disrupted their anti-government protest in central Zagreb.
The nationalist veterans from Croatia's war for independence in the 1990s, who have been campaigning for more rights since September, were demanding to speak to Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic. Milanovic refused to immediately meet them and accused the opposition right-wing HDZ party of standing behind the protest, one of the largest in years in the capital. The tensions have triggered political crisis which could further destabilize the unpopular center-left government.
"I'm not afraid of those people and I will fight them with all democratic means," Milanovic told a hastily called media conference on Friday. The veterans, who have the support of Croatia's new conservative President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, called on the police to change sides and join the protesters. Large groups of their supporters managed to break through police cordons and join the protest in front of the parliament and government headquarters.
"What kind of government sends police against those who have fought for independence of our homeland?" asked Djuro Glogoski, one of the protest leaders. Police said the gathering was illegal, and moved to disperse the group late Thursday.
The veterans — some in wheelchairs — went inside St. Mark's church where they received protection from Roman Catholic priests. Hundreds of riot police surrounded the square on Friday trying to block hundreds of veterans' supporters from joining the protest.
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Over 100 Croatian war veterans on Friday remained inside a Catholic church where they took shelter after police disrupted their anti-government protest in central Zagreb.
The nationalist veterans from Croatia's war for independence in the 1990s, who have been campaigning for more rights since September, were demanding to speak to Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic. Milanovic refused to immediately meet them and accused the opposition right-wing HDZ party of standing behind the protest, one of the largest in years in the capital. The tensions have triggered political crisis which could further destabilize the unpopular center-left government.
"I'm not afraid of those people and I will fight them with all democratic means," Milanovic told a hastily called media conference on Friday. The veterans, who have the support of Croatia's new conservative President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, called on the police to change sides and join the protesters. Large groups of their supporters managed to break through police cordons and join the protest in front of the parliament and government headquarters.
"What kind of government sends police against those who have fought for independence of our homeland?" asked Djuro Glogoski, one of the protest leaders. Police said the gathering was illegal, and moved to disperse the group late Thursday.
The veterans — some in wheelchairs — went inside St. Mark's church where they received protection from Roman Catholic priests. Hundreds of riot police surrounded the square on Friday trying to block hundreds of veterans' supporters from joining the protest.
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