Serbia Protests Draw 140,000, Police Clash With Demonstrators in Belgrade

In Belgrade, Serbia, over 100,000 protesters, led primarily by university students, rallied demanding the resignation of President Aleksandar Vucic and an early parliamentary election, citing government corruption linked to a deadly train station collapse. The demonstrations, ongoing for more than eight months, saw clashes between protesters and riot police who used tear gas, stun grenades, and pepper spray to disperse crowds, with protesters responding by throwing stones, bottles, and flares. The protests escalated into violent confrontations near key government buildings and Vucic's loyalist camps, with masked groups and war veterans among counter-demonstrators. Students declared the current government illegitimate and vowed to oversee elections closely, while Interior Minister Ivica Dacic condemned the violence and vowed to restore order. The police also arrested several individuals following flare and firecracker attacks after the official end of the student protest. Despite the unrest, Vucic's administration has denied accusations of corruption and foreign influence, refusing to call early elections.