A deafening sound of whistles and vuvuzelas rang out across central Belgrade on Saturday as the Serbian capital prepared for a major rally against populist President Aleksandar Vucic and his government.
Huge crowds gathered in central Belgrade for a gathering seen as the culmination of months of near-daily anti-corruption protests that have become the most serious challenge to Mr Vucic's 13-year stranglehold on power in Serbia.
Amid rising tensions, police said they had arrested a man who ploughed his car into protesters in a Belgrade suburb, injuring three people.
In the run-up to the demonstration, Mr Vucic repeatedly warned of alleged plans for unrest, threatening arrests and harsh punishment for any incidents.
Apparently to prevent people from attending the rally, public transport was stopped in Belgrade on Saturday and huge columns of cars filled the roads leading to the capital.
The transport company said the cancellation was made “for safety reasons”.
Tens of thousands of people cheered Friday night for students who have been marching or cycling from all over Serbia to Belgrade for days to take part in the main rally on Saturday afternoon.
From early morning, people began to gather in different parts of the city, preparing to march to the center.
Fuelling fears of clashes, Mr Vucic's supporters set up camp in central Belgrade outside his headquarters.
The crowd included former members of the feared paramilitary group involved in the assassination of Serbia's first democratic prime minister, Zoran Djindjic, in 2003, as well as football hooligans known for their penchant for violence.
On Saturday, private television channel N1 showed footage of dozens of young men in baseball caps heading to a camp of Vucic supporters.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic told state broadcaster RTS that 13 people were detained overnight, but no serious incidents were reported on Friday.
He said police had detained six opposition activists on suspicion of plotting a coup and causing unrest on Saturday.
Student protesters have led a nationwide anti-corruption movement that began after a concrete canopy at a railway station in northern Serbia collapsed on November 1, killing 15 people.
Many in Serbia blame the collapse on rampant government corruption, negligence and poor construction safety.
Mr Vucic claims that Western intelligence services are behind the almost daily student protests aimed at removing him from power.
The students struck a chord with citizens who were disillusioned with politicians and had lost faith in state institutions. Previous student rallies in other Serbian cities had been peaceful, though they drew large crowds.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
