(AP-ANSA) - BELGRADE - Thousands in Serbia protested again
Saturday against populist President Aleksandar Vucic as riot
police deployed inside the country's parliament, saying they
wanted to prevent the opposition from storming the building. The
protest in central Belgrade in front of the parliament building
- the biggest so far in 19 straight weeks - came after months of
anti-government demonstrations accusing Vucic of being
autocratic and demanding that his government allow more
democracy, media freedoms and free elections in the Balkan
nation.
Opposition leaders, ranging from the far-left to right-wing,
said authorities sought to prevent their supporters from coming
to Belgrade for the rally Saturday. Police denied the
accusations. Speakers called for a prolonged struggle against
Vucic's government and demanded that the European Union stops
what they called its support for his rule. Although staunchly
pro-Russian, Vucic has claimed he wants to take Serbia into the
EU. Opposition leaders said they want to speak with the
government about democratic changes, including free media and
free elections, adding that if Vucic refuses, they will gather
again in Belgrade next Saturday. Vucic's conservative party
members, meanwhile, barricaded themselves inside the Belgrade
parliament building and in local city councils throughout Serbia
on Saturday, claiming they wanted to prevent the forceful
takeover of power by "fascists and thugs."
Tensions have mounted all week as pro-government media and
officials alleged that the opposition wanted to storm state
institutions and take power by force. Those comments came
despite the fact that the weekly anti-government protests have
been largely peaceful. Vucic, who denies accusations that he's
an autocrat, said Saturday's protest "will achieve nothing" and
added that any trouble makers "will be removed" from the
streets. The anti-government protests started after masked thugs
beat up an opposition politician last November. Late Serbian
hard-line leader Slobodan Milosevic was ousted from power in
2000 after protesters stormed the parliament in Belgrade. Vucic
was his close associate then. Vucic plans to bring his
supporters to Belgrade next Friday to counter the rising revolt
against his rule. DUSAN STOJANOVIC/ (AP-ANSA)
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