New anti-government demonstration unites thousands in Belgrade







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BELGRADE (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Serbs demonstrated on Saturday for the fourth consecutive week against the government in Belgrade, accused of fueling a culture of violence after two shootings that left 18 people dead in early May.

The opposition parties behind the rally blame President Aleksandar Vucic and the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) for failing to curb incitement to hatred in the media and failing to act against the criminal fringes of the Company.

The demonstrators, gathered in the streets around the headquarters of public radio and television RTS, demanded the resignation of Aleksandar Vucic and Interior Minister Bratislav Gasic and demanded more freedom for the media.

A counter-demonstration of tens of thousands of people from Serbia and neighboring countries was organized on Friday in support of the head of state, who rejects the accusations of his opponents and denounces demonstrations manipulated for political purposes.

The Serbian president resigned on Saturday from the leadership of the SNS and appointed Defense Minister Milos Vucevic to replace him at the head of the party.

(Report Aleksandar Vasovic; French version Jean-Stéphane Brosse)











Reuters

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