Serbian police fire tear gas at protesters demanding end to Vucic rule

After 10 months of dissent, protests amusement nary signs of dying down arsenic fury astatine alleged authorities corruption grows.

Serbia’s constabulary person fired teardrop state and stun grenades astatine antigovernment protesters successful the metropolis of Novi Sad who are demanding drawback elections and an extremity to President Aleksandar Vucic’s 12-year government.

Thousands gathered connected Friday astatine the city’s authorities assemblage field for yet different objection aft 10 months of persistent dissent prompted by the fatal illness of the Novi Sad bid station extortion past November, which killed 16 people.

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The calamity became a flashpoint for frustrations with the government, with galore Serbians saying it had been caused by alleged corruption and negligence successful authorities infrastructure projects and calling for Vucic’s departure.

“Vucic leave,” the crowds chanted, repeating their calls for aboriginal elections arsenic they marched towards the campus, wherever constabulary attempted to disperse them with teardrop state and stun grenades.

The Beta quality bureau reported that protesters had earlier thrown flares and bottles astatine the police.

In an code precocious connected Friday evening, President Vucic said that 11 policemen were injured. There was nary accusation connected however galore protesters person been injured.

“We are not going to let demolition of the authorities institutions,” Vucic told reporters. “Serbia is simply a beardown and liable state.”

He accused overseas information services of being down antigovernment protesters and said his supporters would clasp rallies successful cities crossed Serbia connected Sunday.

The months of nationwide protests person mostly passed disconnected peacefully, but took a much violent crook connected August 13, erstwhile dozens of civilians and constabulary officers were injured successful clashes successful a fig of locations.

The violence, which protesters blamed connected heavy-handed tactics by authorities loyalists and police, was repeated connected Monday astatine a march successful Novi Sad to people the 10-month day of the tragedy.

Authorities person rejected allegations of brutality, contempt videos showing officers beating unarmed protesters, and accusations that activists were assaulted portion successful custody.

Students, absorption groups and anticorruption watchdogs impeach Vucic and his allies of ties to organised crime, utilizing unit against governmental rivals and suppressing media freedoms.

Vucic denies the allegations and has remained defiantly successful bureau astatine the helm of a reshuffled administration. His nationalist Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has responded to protests by staging its ain rallies astir the country.