Serbia police use teargas as anti-government protests escalate
Protesters threw firecrackers and flares at officers, escalating tensions in the nine-month-long demonstrations.
The crowd gathered near the army headquarters building, which was bombed by NATO in 1999, before clashes erupted.
Trash containers were overturned and set on fire, while one tree also caught fire during the unrest.
Similar protests occurred in Novi Sad, Nis, Kragujevac, and Valjevo, with teargas also used in Nis.
No official figures were released on the number of injuries from the latest clashes.
The protests began after 16 people died in a railway station roof collapse in Novi Sad, sparking nationwide anger.
Until Wednesday, demonstrations had been largely peaceful, but recent clashes left 27 officers and 80 civilians injured.
President Aleksandar Vucic told RTS TV that 3,000 police officers are deployed nightly, facing attacks and injuries.
Protesters accuse the government of corruption linked to the railway disaster and demand early elections.
Opposition groups and activists allege Vucic's party has ties to organised crime and suppresses media freedoms.
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty condemned police use of disproportionate force.
He urged authorities to avoid excessive measures and de-escalate the situation amid ongoing human rights concerns. - Reuters
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Borneo Post
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- Borneo Post
Trump seeks US-Russia-Ukraine summit after Putin meeting fails to secure ceasefire
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The European leaders, who had been wary of being left out of the Alaska meeting, held their own talks on Saturday and said they supported the proposed three-way summit. 'We are also ready to work with President Trump and President Zelensky towards a trilateral summit with European support,' they said in a joint statement that added that pressure must be maintained on Russia. 'As long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand ready to uphold the pressure on Russia. We will continue to strengthen sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia's war economy until there is a just and lasting peace,' they said. Russia could not have a 'veto' on Ukraine joining the European Union or NATO, they added. The war, that has killed tens of thousands and devastated much of Ukraine, went on despite the summit. Ukraine announced that Russia had launched 85 attack drones and a ballistic missile during the night. Russia said it had taken two more villages in Ukraine. 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The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Zelenskiy to travel to Washington on Monday for talks with Trump
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Malay Mail
10 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Zelenskiy to travel to Washington on Monday for talks with Trump
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