Police disperse protesters in downtown Belgrade

Police forces have distributed protesters gathered in downtown Belgrade, to the seventh protest through which the Serbian opposition called for cancellation of elections in Serbia.

Representatives of the opposition list “Serbia against violence” tried to enter the Communist Parliament building so that citizens could be addressed by the balcony of the Assembly.

They pushed the door, but they failed to enter after being detained by the police.

Part of the protesters broke the building's windows and lights. Police responded with tear gas.

At the main entrance of the Municipal Assembly, a police official told protesters that “forced entry is criminal offence”.

After the incidents before the Communist Assembly of the Serbian leader, through an address to the public by the presidency of Serbia, Aleksandar Vuciq told Serbian citizens not to worry and “that no revolution is under way, and we are trying not to hurt any of the demonstrators through an easy reaction”.

However, the Serbian president said authorities would not allow protesters to destroy the country.

The December 24th protest began before the headquarters of the Republican Election Commission, where thousands of citizens gathered at the invitation of the opposition coalition, “Serbia against violence”, which does not recognise the results of the December 17th elections, as, according to the opposition, the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has won the elections through election fraud.

The demand for annulment of elections at all levels is being demanded because, as it has been said, “preventing the will of citizens”.

These elections are being cancelled”, said Marinika Tepiq, leader of Serbia's “list against violence”, which has been on hunger strike since December 18th, in protest with the election results.

Several opposition politicians during this week joined her in hunger strike, calling for the repeat elections.

“We must regulate the laws for the elections”, said Srdjan Milivojevicq of the Democratic Party, which participated in the protest.

“We have won in Belgrade, Belgrade is free city”, he added.

Protesters held banners, flags of Serbia and the European Union, and cheered “henna”.

The state leadership and the SNS have denied criticism by local and international observers and officials, as well as criticism from Serbia's “list against violence”.

The Republican Election Commission on December 24th announced that the line ministries have checked the election list and have come to the conclusion that claims of the “list Serbia against violence” that the number of eligible voters in Belgrade's local elections had been artificially raised to influence the election results, “were not true”.

Meanwhile, Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq said on Sunday that only state institutions could decide whether the elections should be repeated, claiming elections were held in democratic atmosphere “and were the most peaceful elections in modern history”.

The Monitoring Mission of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said on December 18th that the elections were described with serious irregularities, misuse of state funds, with negative campaigns and widespread fear.

Meanwhile, Eurodeputs have called for independent investigation into all irregularities in parliamentary, local and district elections held on December 17th.

The United States has also called on authorities in Serbia to investigate allegations of irregularities made by international observers.

The SNS has declared victory at all levels. / REL