Tens of thousands rally in Serbia's capital to demand snap elections
Tens of thousands of students and anti-corruption protesters gathered in Belgrade on Saturday, issuing an "ultimatum" for President Aleksandar Vucic to call for early elections by 9 pm (1900 GMT). Serbians have been taking to the streets to denonce rampant corruption in the government since last November, when the roof of a train station collapsed in the northern city of Novi Sad, killing 16 people.
Tens of thousands of Serbian protesters converged on Belgrade on Saturday to press their demand for early elections after months of student-led strikes.
As the hours-long rally began, massive crowds were building, with more streaming into a major square of the capital, according to AFP journalists.
Carrying Serbian flags and banners, many emblazoned with the names of cities and towns throughout the Balkan nation, the protest began with a rendition of the national anthem.
"We are not the problem, we are the consequence," one banner read.
Read moreWhy has the EU kept silent on Serbia's massive protest movement?
For more than half a year, students have blockaded universities and organised large demonstrations around the country, demanding a transparent investigation into the deaths.
Police urged protesters to remain peaceful.
Read more on FRANCE 24 EnglishRead also:Serbian protesters cycle 1,400 kilometres to seek EU support against Vucic regimeThousands protest in Belgrade in biggest rally yet against alleged electoral fraud
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