Police on Thursday blocked access to Zagreb's St. Mark's Square, where the government and parliament are headquartered and where a rally demanding that the government step down began at 6 pm, organised the Alliance for Change and at the initiative of Ivan Pernar.

The rally was convened via Facebook and about 100 people have arrived, shouting "Jadranka, go away" and "Down with the HDZ", referring to Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party.

Protest rallies in St. Mark's Square are banned since 2005.

Veteran association announces protest rally for Saturday in Zagreb

The association of Croatian war veterans 1990-1996 on Thursday announced a veteran protest to be held in Zagreb's central Ban Josip Jelacic square on Saturday, saying that apart from veterans, the event would also bring together farmers, unionists and fishermen.

Retired general Zeljko Sacic told a news conference today that the protest was triggered off by the case of Vukovar war veteran Tihomir Purda, who he said was a victim of bureaucracy.

Croatian public expressed solidarity with Purda, the retired general said explaining the reasons for the protest.

He stressed the protest would be peaceful and dignified, adding that protesters would let the political elite know that their way of ruling was over.

The retired general said that the protest was not organised by any political party, but individuals, representatives of veteran associations and common people.