Opposition gives govt. "2 months to call elections"

According to reports, more than 55,000 people gathered at the opposition Serb Progressive Party (SNS) rally in Belgrade. The rally started around 12:30 CET. Opposition gives govt. "2 months to call elections" The protesters were carrying pictures of SNS leader Tomislav Nikolic and banners saying “We want prosperous Serbia”, “How much longer?” etc. Representatives of the SNS, New Serbia (NS), Power of Serbia Movement and Socialists Movement addressed the citizens. Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leader Tomislav Nikolic set a two-month deadline for the government to call early parliamentary elections. He said that, unless the government agreed to talk, the protesters would in April begin a nonviolent resistance at the same place where they gathered Saturday. Nikolic said that the protesters are not trying to "bring down the government, but rather to beat it" in the elections. SNS deputy leader Aleksandar Vucic said that they did not organize the protest so they would talk bad about the government but to request early elections. “If they don’t hear this we will call you again in two months and then we won’t leave the streets until they are gone,” he told the protesters who gathered in downtown Belgrade. He said that the opposition and their supporters wanted to show the “alienated government” that they had had enough of terror and poverty and that they wanted changes. Vucic also called upon the citizens to remain calm during and after the rally. Streets in downtown Belgrade are closed for traffic. Belgrade Police Administration Chief Stevan Bjelic told B92 that police believed that there would be between 40,000 and 50,000 people at the rally. He added that 4,200 police officers would provide security during the gathering. The organizers claim that this will be the biggest opposition rally so far. The SNS, Socialist Movement and Power of Serbia Movement have announced that citizens’ safety will not be threatened and that 10,000 people will be hired to ensure that. Nikolic pointed out that the rally would be peaceful and that it would not be a pre-revolutionary protest. Bjelic stated that police did not expect bigger disturbance of peace but that it was possible that supporter groups would attempt to create riots. He pointed out that police had information that between 1,500 and 2,000 football supporters would attend the meeting, adding that “it is better that those who want to make trouble do not come because police will intervene”. See more photos The SNS rally in downtown Belgrade (Tanjug)

Opposition gives govt. "2 months to call elections"

The protesters were carrying pictures of SNS leader Tomislav Nikolić and banners saying “We want prosperous Serbia”, “How much longer?” etc.

Representatives of the SNS, New Serbia (NS), Power of Serbia Movement and Socialists Movement addressed the citizens.

Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leader Tomislav Nikolić set a two-month deadline for the government to call early parliamentary elections.

He said that, unless the government agreed to talk, the protesters would in April begin a nonviolent resistance at the same place where they gathered Saturday.

Nikolić said that the protesters are not trying to "bring down the government, but rather to beat it" in the elections.

SNS deputy leader Aleksandar Vučić said that they did not organize the protest so they would talk bad about the government but to request early elections.

“If they don’t hear this we will call you again in two months and then we won’t leave the streets until they are gone,” he told the protesters who gathered in downtown Belgrade.

He said that the opposition and their supporters wanted to show the “alienated government” that they had had enough of terror and poverty and that they wanted changes.

Vučić also called upon the citizens to remain calm during and after the rally.

Streets in downtown Belgrade are closed for traffic.

Belgrade Police Administration Chief Stevan Bjelić told B92 that police believed that there would be between 40,000 and 50,000 people at the rally.

He added that 4,200 police officers would provide security during the gathering.

The organizers claim that this will be the biggest opposition rally so far.

The SNS, Socialist Movement and Power of Serbia Movement have announced that citizens’ safety will not be threatened and that 10,000 people will be hired to ensure that.

Nikolić pointed out that the rally would be peaceful and that it would not be a pre-revolutionary protest.

Bjelić stated that police did not expect bigger disturbance of peace but that it was possible that supporter groups would attempt to create riots.

He pointed out that police had information that between 1,500 and 2,000 football supporters would attend the meeting, adding that “it is better that those who want to make trouble do not come because police will intervene”.

See more photos