Serbian opposition protesters break windows, police use pepper spray

Thousands gathered in the center of Belgrade in an anti-government protest on Sunday (December 24) to demand the annulment of parliamentary and local elections a week ago that international observers said were unfair.

Police fired pepper spray, a Reuters witness said, after a crowd tried to break in the Belgrade city hall where the local election commission is based. Some of the protesters climbed the building and broke windows, as protesters chanted "Traitors of the people."

Srdjan Milivojevic and Vladimir Obradovic of the Serbia Against Violence coalition tried to open the door of the town hall, but were unable to enter, while the crowd shouted "get in, get in," and "no surrender."

Another member of Serbia Against Violence Marinika Tepic has been on hunger strike since the elections to demand they should be annulled.

The populist ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) won 46.72% of the votes in snap parliamentary elections last weekend, according to state election commission preliminary results.

An international monitoring mission on Monday said the SNS gained an unfair advantage through media bias, the improper influence of President Aleksandar Vucic and voting irregularities such as vote buying.

Vucic said the elections were fair.

(Source: Reuters)


Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Press TV News Roku