"We believe that anarchy should be replaced with democracy and fair dialogue," Hebrang said, calling on all those who disagree with the government's policy to present their programmes on which they are ready to negotiate.

"We absolutely do not accept programmes such as the nationalisation of banks. We had that in 1945 and it did not end well. We do not accept a programme aimed at the devastation of national property which we had in 1990, which also did not end well. We accept dialogue, ideas and talks, not only with street protesters but also with everyone else," Hebrang said, calling on the Croatian Employers' Association and everyone else looking for faster changes to come forward with their proposals.

Commenting on today's veterans' protest rally, Hebrang said he absolutely supported the veterans, saying that the number one task was to preserve their dignity, pride and standards. He recalled that when it came to power in 2003, the HDZ-run government righted many wrongs done to veterans by the previous Social Democratic Party-run government.

He urged President Ivo Josipovic to get involved in the solving of the case of war veteran Tihomir Purda.

Jandrokovic said the government had done and would continue to do everything to return Purda to Croatia as soon as possible.

Purda is a Croatian war veteran in custody in Bosnia awaiting a State Court ruling on Serbia's extradition plea over war crimes charges.