Giant anti-government rally in Belgrade over mass shootings

BELGRADE – Tens of thousands of people staged the fourth weekly anti-government protest in the Serbian capital Belgrade on Saturday after

two back-to-back shootings that killed 18 people, half of them children.

Carrying flowers, the protesters defied rain and ringed the building of the state-run RTS broadcaster, demanding the resignations of top directors and editors.

The

“Serbia against violence” protests

have culminated in some of the largest rallies since widespread demonstrations triggered the fall of strongman Slobodan Milosevic more than two decades ago.

They have tapped into simmering anger at the ruling party over what demonstrators say is a culture of violence fanned by the government and the media outlets they control.

“I am here because I am fed up with the lies and corruption. Nothing will change here until people realise it is possible and that we do have a choice,” 40-year-old Dusan Valent told AFP.

The protests took shape after mass shootings in early May that left 18 people dead and wounded several others. Nine of the dead were pupils at a Belgrade elementary school who were gunned down by a 13-year-old pupil.

The demonstrators want the government to revoke the broadcasting licences of television channels promoting violent content, and a ban on pro-government newspapers that stir tensions by targeting political dissidents.

They also want the Interior Minister and the head of the intelligence service to resign.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic

organised a rally of his own supporters on Friday in a show of force against the opposition-led protests.

Mr Vucic initially dismissed the protests as a political stunt, but seemed to soften his stance on Friday. “Those who rallied in the past couple of weeks are, for the most part, good, decent and normal people who want what’s good for Serbia,” he said.

“Those I cannot appreciate are the politicians, who will make history with dishonour, by abusing the greatest tragedy of our people,” he said, referring to the shootings.

But Mr Vucic turned down their demand for a transitional government ahead of new elections. AFP