Anti-government protest in Croatia

President Mesic said while protests are allowed, calls for the overthrow of the government are not

ZAGREB, Croatia -- Up to 30,000 Croat right-wingers have held one of the biggest anti-government rallies in the capital since a pro-European centre-left coalition took over almost two years ago.

The protest was organised by the Committee for the Defence of the Dignity of the Homeland War, which is said to be led by several veterans' groups, but many believe the former ruling nationalist HDZ was behind them.

The HDZ did not take part in the event but many of its top officials were present in Zagreb for Saturday's protest.

More than 300 free coaches brought thousands of men from all across the country to the capital.

They carried Croatian flags, some with fascist insignia, and pictures of Croatian generals indicted for war crimes by local and international courts.

They also carried banners saying "The time is up," calling for the "anti-Croatian" government of Prime Minister Ivica Racan to step down, and pictures of late President Franjo Tudjman.

The protesters accuse the government of betraying national interests by denigrating heroes of its 1991-95 independence war, negotiating unfavourable border agreements with neighbours and enforcing social cuts for war veterans.

"I fought for this country and cannot understand why (the authorities) are so blindly persecuting all our defenders," a disabled war veteran who declined to give his name told Reuters.

"It is really high time they stepped down," he said.

At a similar rally in February, 100,000 veterans gathered in Split to protest against the war-crimes prosecution of an ex-general.

Janko Bobetko, a retired army general, told the crowd that Croatian fighters "are being humiliated and offended" by the government.

The rally "is a warning that change is necessary," he said.

The group demands that the government, which took power in January 2000, step down immediately, and some have suggested it could be overthrown.

New elections are not due before 2004, but the motto of the rally -- "it's all over" -- implied that organisers hope the government's fall is near.

President Stipe Mesic said on Friday that though democracy allows protests, "no one is permitted to call for the forcible overthrow" of the government.

The five-party governing coalition declared that "nobody can, using the speech of hatred, pass judgment on a democratically elected government."