Serbia opposition protest over election results injures 8 police officers; 38 detained
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The opposition led by the centre-left alliance Serbia Against Violence said the protests will continue on Dec 25.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BELGRADE - Eight policemen were injured and 38 people detained during and after an opposition protest over election results,
Thousands gathered in the centre of Belgrade on Dec 24 to demand the annulment of parliamentary and local elections a week ago that international observers said were unfair.
The protesters broke windows and glass at the main entrance of the town hall, before police used pepper spray to disperse them at around 10pm (Dec 25, 5am Singapore time).
Mr Ivica Ivkovic, head of the police administration, said two of the eight wounded policemen sustained serious injuries.
“We will continue to work to maintain peace and order and we expect to see more arrests in relations with protests last night,” Mr Ivkovic told a news conference.
The opposition parties accused police of excessive force, and some social networks showed footage of policemen beating up men in streets near the town hall.
Outgoing Prime Minister Ana Brnabic thanked the Russian secret service for providing information on planned activities by the opposition.
“This (my statement) is not going to be popular in the West,” Ms Brnabic from the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) said on a TV show.
A European Union aspirant, Serbia has resisted pressure by Western countries to introduce sanctions against Russia.
Moscow has been one of Serbia's closest allies for decades, especially after 1999 when Russia opposed the Nato air strikes against rump Yugoslavia which comprised Serbia and Montenegro.
An international monitoring mission on Dec 18 said SNS gained an unfair advantage through media bias, the improper influence of President Aleksandar Vucic, and voting irregularities such as vote buying.
The opposition led by the centre-left alliance Serbia Against Violence said the protests will continue on Dec 25, with students planning to block traffic.
The populist ruling Serbian Progressive Party won 46.72 per cent of the votes in last weekend’s snap parliamentary election, according to state election commission preliminary results.
Serbia Against Violence came second in the election with 23.56 per cent of the vote, and the Socialist Party of Serbia third with 6.56 per cent. REUTERS
