2009-06-10 23:31:04 -

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) - Croatian farmers will spend the night on the tractors they drove to the capital Wednesday, after failing to get government support for regular subsidies, higher prices for their products and limits on food imports.
In Romania, hundreds of cattle farmers with similar demands marched through Bucharest and clashed briefly with riot police. They tried to force their way toward government offices in Bucharest with a cow. Realitatea TV reported the animal collapsed in the melee.
The Romanian protesters, seeking subsidies for milk and beef production, spoke with the finance minister and were expected to discuss their grievances with the agriculture minister.
In Zagreb, Croatian farmers parked about 200 tractors on a main street in Zagreb near the Agriculture Ministry earlier in the day, hindering traffic. They later moved on to a Zagreb suburb, leaving some 40 tractors behind.
Antun Laslo, a protest leader, said they will stay in Zagreb «day and night» until their demands are met.
An agriculture ministry official, Kresimir Kuterovac, met the protesters, but they soon stormed out of the building, declaring they had not reached any agreement.
Ivica Miketek, who represents dairy producers, said they will insist on meeting Prime Minister Ivo Sanader.

Agriculture Minister Bozidar Pankretic said he was ready to talk, «but at the table, not on the streets.
He also said the government has given substantial aid to farmers, despite the economic crisis.
The Croatian farmers complain that the government is late in paying subsidies and that its prices for milk and wheat are too low.