Opposition leader says he'll continue hunger strike

Opposition Serb Progressive Party (SNS) President Tomislav Nikolic said on Tuesday that he would continue his hunger and thirst strike. "I am prepared to stay on strike for as long as it takes to turn Serbia into a normal country," he told reporters at the hospital where he is receiving treatment. Opposition leader says he'll continue hunger strike According to him, the doctors will intensify his therapy later in the day because the condition of his kidneys and his electrocardiogram have deteriorated. Nikolic also said that he "pleaded with Patriarch Irinej to forgive him if he was misunderstood", in reference to Irinej's statement that his protest was "not Christian". The SNS leader said he was not trying to commit suicide, and described the strike as "fasting that's somewhat more rigorous than usual". Nikolic then went on to state that on Thursday he'd "take communion". Asked what businessmen Milan Beko said when he visited him in the hospital, Nikolic said Beko was an old friend whom he had not seen for a year, and that he was one of about 200 people who visited him. Among them was Health Minister Zoran Stankovic - the only representative of the authorities. Dr. Ljubomir Ilic, who is a member of a team of doctors monitoring Nikolic's condition, said his patient was stable after receiving intensified therapy. Ilic would not give any details about the therapy Nikolic is receiving. Nikolic's hunger and thirst strike came in a bid to force early elections in the country - something the authorities are refusing to do until Serbia is give EU membership candidate status. Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Patriarch Irinej weighed in on Monday to say that hunger strikes were "not Christian". But other dignitaries such as Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Coast Amfilohije have supported Nikolic, while Bishop Irinej of Backa visited him in hospital. "We expect differently toned statements from the SPC, we'll see how it goes," said Nikolic's party deputy, Aleksandar Vucic. Asked how Nikolic felt, Vucic stated late on Monday that he "seemed to have lost weights", but that his party boss was not one of those "complaining and whining". Nikolic in his hospital bed (Tanjug)

Opposition leader says he'll continue hunger strike

According to him, the doctors will intensify his therapy later in the day because the condition of his kidneys and his electrocardiogram have deteriorated.

Nikolić also said that he "pleaded with Patriarch Irinej to forgive him if he was misunderstood", in reference to Irinej's statement that his protest was "not Christian".

The SNS leader said he was not trying to commit suicide, and described the strike as "fasting that's somewhat more rigorous than usual".

Nikolić then went on to state that on Thursday he'd "take communion".

Asked what businessmen Milan Beko said when he visited him in the hospital, Nikolić said Beko was an old friend whom he had not seen for a year, and that he was one of about 200 people who visited him.

Among them was Health Minister Zoran Stanković - the only representative of the authorities.

Dr. Ljubomir Ilić, who is a member of a team of doctors monitoring Nikolić's condition, said his patient was stable after receiving intensified therapy.

Ilić would not give any details about the therapy Nikolić is receiving.

Nikolić's hunger and thirst strike came in a bid to force early elections in the country - something the authorities are refusing to do until Serbia is give EU membership candidate status.

Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Patriarch Irinej weighed in on Monday to say that hunger strikes were "not Christian".

But other dignitaries such as Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Coast Amfilohije have supported Nikolić, while Bishop Irinej of Bačka visited him in hospital.

"We expect differently toned statements from the SPC, we'll see how it goes," said Nikolić's party deputy, Aleksandar Vučić.

Asked how Nikolić felt, Vučić stated late on Monday that he "seemed to have lost weights", but that his party boss was not one of those "complaining and whining".