Renewed violence erupts during protests in Serbia
Belgrade
Violent riots have broken out for the third successive day during protests against the government of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, local media reported on Saturday.
In the capital Belgrade, rubbish bins were set on fire and fireworks and other objects thrown at police officers, reports said.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said that six police officers had been injured and 38 demonstrators were arrested.
Anti-government rallies also took place in other Serbian cities. For more than nine months, large numbers of people in Serbia have demonstrated almost daily against Vucic.
The protests were triggered by the collapse of a newly renovated railway station canopy in the northern city of Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, which killed 16 people.
Independent experts and opposition figures blame the tragedy on sloppiness and corruption under the current government.
Until last Wednesday, the protests had been largely non-violent.
Independent media and protest organizers attributed the recent escalation to provocateurs from Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
With the support of the police and secret services, they are said to have repeatedly instigated violent incidents or attacked peaceful demonstrators.
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