More protests announced against settling of Roma

Organizers of a protest that turned violent last weekend say they will continue with the gatherings "until the problem of relocation of Romas has been solved". There was a peaceful protest on Monday in the Belgrade suburb of Resnik, after clashes on Sunday left a dozen police officers injured when stones and bottles were hurled at them. More protests announced against settling of Roma The officers were securing a site where workers were placing housing containers for Roma families that are scheduled to move there from a shantytown in New Belgrade later this month. Mayor Dragan Djilas on Monday condemned the violence and said the city would go ahead with its plans, while Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said 20 persons were arrested in the wake of the rioting, and added that they were "most likely" fans of Red Star and Rad football clubs. Meanwhile, sociologist Vladimir Vuletic told B92 that the incident showed there was still "a high degree of anti-Roma mood in Serbia", described it as "racist", and added that "certain organized groups, such as the so-called fans, use this type of situation to create more tensions". Those who protested on Monday in Resnik demanded an apology from Mayor Djilas who they said also branded "the residents of Resnik as racists", and noted that their protest "had nothing to do with political parties". The protest on Monday (Tanjug) B92

More protests announced against settling of Roma

The officers were securing a site where workers were placing housing containers for Roma families that are scheduled to move there from a shantytown in New Belgrade later this month.

Mayor Dragan Đilas on Monday condemned the violence and said the city would go ahead with its plans, while Interior Minister Ivica Dačić said 20 persons were arrested in the wake of the rioting, and added that they were "most likely" fans of Red Star and Rad football clubs.

Meanwhile, sociologist Vladimir Vuletić told B92 that the incident showed there was still "a high degree of anti-Roma mood in Serbia", described it as "racist", and added that "certain organized groups, such as the so-called fans, use this type of situation to create more tensions".

Those who protested on Monday in Resnik demanded an apology from Mayor Đilas who they said also branded "the residents of Resnik as racists", and noted that their protest "had nothing to do with political parties".