Demonstrators threw stones at the offices of the local branch of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), smashing several windows, and also hurled fireworks, eggs and fruit at the building housing the city government.
Students gathered in the square around 10 a.m., singing and chanting the general's name, and dispersed three hours later, police spokeswoman Sandra Poljak-Jurincic said, adding that police patrols had been stepped up to ensure public safety.
The Zadar Police Department again appealed to citizens to refrain from violence so as not to put public safety at risk.
The SDP head office in Zagreb strongly condemned the incident, saying that members of the SDP had in no way provoked such violent behaviour.
The party urged the police to identify the perpetrators as soon as possible and to stop further violence.
Also on Friday, all Split County war veterans' organisations unanimously decided at a meeting to organise a rally in Split on Sunday in support of General Gotovina. The rally is expected to draw more people than one organised in 2001 in support of General Mirko Norac, when an estimated 200,000 protesters packed Split's waterfront.