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Dacic says incidents in Belgrade damaged country's image

Also critical of lack of response by western countries

18 March, 16:23
(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MARCH 18 - Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said clashes and violence by opposition protesters at the weekend in Belgrade caused damage to the country's image. Dacic also criticised the silence by embassies from western countries and the EU. Dacic, speaking to private broadcaster Pink, said the message was that instability, crisis, clashes, and incidents reign in the country, a fact which he said "caused serious damage to Serbia". He lamented the fact that despite the seriousness of the violence on the part of demonstrators - which included breaking into the headquarters of public broadcaster RTS and blocking the presidential palace - there was no response from any western ambassador. "No one made a phone call, neither to the ministry nor to the president, to find out what was going on," he said. Serbian police chief Vladimir Rebic said 18 people were arrested during the demonstrations. Rebic said six officers were wounded in the clashes at the RTS headquarters. He emphasised the police's professional and responsible behavior, in that they deployed a very controlled use of force in order to contain the most violent demonstrators. (ANSA).

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