Antigovernment protesters clash with police in several Serbian cities

Protesters person clashed with riot constabulary successful Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, and different cities, connected the 5th consecutive nighttime of demonstrations against the authorities of right-wing President Aleksandar Vucic.

Clashes besides broke retired successful Belgrade precocious connected Saturday aft constabulary stopped demonstrators heading for the governing Serbian Progressive Party’s (SNS) headquarters.

Late connected Saturday, thousands gathered successful the cardinal metropolis of Valjevo to amusement their increasing choler against the government, portion a tiny radical of masked young men attacked the bare offices of the governing SNS party, mounting them alight.

They subsequently clashed with riot police, with protesters throwing fireworks and rocks arsenic the officers responded with stun grenades and teardrop gas.

Some clashes were besides reported successful the bluish metropolis of Novi Sad, the country’s 2nd largest.

Almost regular protests person gripped Serbia since November, pursuing the illness of a railway presumption extortion that killed 16 people.

The calamity became a awesome of deep-rooted corruption successful the Balkan nation, with demands for a transparent probe increasing into calls for aboriginal elections.

At their height, the protests drew hundreds of thousands onto the streets.

However, the mostly peaceful demonstrations deteriorated earlier this week erstwhile ample groups of pro-government supporters – galore masked and immoderate equipped with batons and fireworks – attacked protesters.

That has led to convulsive clashes for respective nights, leaving galore injured connected some sides.

Protests were further heightened aft respective videos shared online showed constabulary striking unarmed demonstrators with batons.

Police person denied allegations of brutality, accusing demonstrators of attacking officers.

While the protests person truthful acold led to the resignation of the premier curate and the illness of the government, President Vucic has remained defiant.

He has repeatedly rejected calls for aboriginal elections and denounced the demonstrations arsenic portion of a overseas crippled to overthrow him.