Police clash with anti-gay protesters in Belgrade

In downtown Belgrade, Serbian police (MUP) officers clashed with 6,000 protesters rallying against the Belgrade Pride gay parade. Serbian President Boris Tadic reacted to the violence by saying that "the state is ready to get tough with the hooligans". Police clash with anti-gay protesters in Belgrade The toll for today is more 140 persons injured, the number which includes 124 policemen and 17 rioters. The rest are civilians, some of whom were innocent bystanders. A number of the injured sustained severe traumas. Police detained 207 persons, of whom 100 are placed in custody for violent behavior and looting. There were several incidents since this morning and MUP Gendarmerie and other special units were using armored vehicles and tear gas, trying to regain control over the rally. Police clashed with the rioters near Palace Albania, where they were pushed back from Terazije Sq. The protesters were shouting "Go to Kosovo" at the officers. The mobile mammography unit was stoned, bought with the help of donors and B92, in downtown Belgrade while the doctors were examining their patients. The headquarerts of the ruling Democratic Party were also under attack and were set ablaze for a short while. The building of the national television RTS did not escape the attack of hooligans, who also tried to storm the parliament building, but failed. A number of vehicles were damaged today, including several parked cars and 11 police vehicles, two buses and two trolleybuses. The hooligans ripped out traffic signs and used them as weapons against the police. Incidents began in Slavija Sq., where tear gas was fired and one police officer was hurt when demonstrators threw stones at about 30-strong police cordon. The overpowered police retreated seeking reinforcements. B92 TV reported that eight Molotov cocktails were thrown there. According to the police information, another small group in the same area was forced to fall back and two rioters were detained. Another group of about 50 youths gathered at the same time on top of the Kralja Milana Street, where they encountered a strong police cordon, placed near the Presidency of Serbia. They chanted football songs and shouted insults at the policemen who secured the site and the Pride Parade participants. More stones and bottles were pelted at police there. In a nearby location at 10:30 CET, police officers in full riot gear stopped hundreds of mostly young people from moving forward. The Pride Parade opponents pelted stones at the Gendarmes near Nikola Pasic Square, news agencies reported. They came to the square and began throwing rocks at the officers, who tried to push them back from the parliament building. Reinforcements came from the direction of the City Hall and managed to prevent further progress of the protesters. A police helicopter was seen flying over the sites of the clashes. Some 200 protesters threw bottles, stones and bricks at the cordon placed between the presidency and parliament buildings. The violence subsided in late afternoon. Strong Gendarmerie forces trying to regain control (Tanjug) Authorities ready to prosecute Spokesman of the Prosecutor's Office Tomo Zoric told B92 TV that the prosecution and the police will do everything to identify all those involved in committing crimes and attacks on the police, in addition to the already arrested. He said that all the key incidents were recorded and that the video footage of today's violence would be used as evidence in criminal proceedings that will ensue. The Prosecutor's Office will initiate proceedings, Zoric said and pointed out that "such criminal acts are punishable by up to 8 years in prison." When asked how the authorities intended to prosecute hundreds of rioters, Zoric said that it was their duty to do so, adding that "no one can be above the law."

Police clash with anti-gay protesters in Belgrade

The toll for today is more 140 persons injured, the number which includes 124 policemen and 17 rioters. The rest are civilians, some of whom were innocent bystanders. A number of the injured sustained severe traumas. Police detained 207 persons, of whom 100 are placed in custody for violent behavior and looting.

There were several incidents since this morning and MUP Gendarmerie and other special units were using armored vehicles and tear gas, trying to regain control over the rally. Police clashed with the rioters near Palace Albania, where they were pushed back from Terazije Sq. The protesters were shouting "Go to Kosovo" at the officers.

The mobile mammography unit was stoned, bought with the help of donors and B92, in downtown Belgrade while the doctors were examining their patients.

The headquarerts of the ruling Democratic Party were also under attack and were set ablaze for a short while. The building of the national television RTS did not escape the attack of hooligans, who also tried to storm the parliament building, but failed.

A number of vehicles were damaged today, including several parked cars and 11 police vehicles, two buses and two trolleybuses. The hooligans ripped out traffic signs and used them as weapons against the police.

Incidents began in Slavija Sq., where tear gas was fired and one police officer was hurt when demonstrators threw stones at about 30-strong police cordon. The overpowered police retreated seeking reinforcements. B92 TV reported that eight Molotov cocktails were thrown there.

According to the police information, another small group in the same area was forced to fall back and two rioters were detained.

Another group of about 50 youths gathered at the same time on top of the Kralja Milana Street, where they encountered a strong police cordon, placed near the Presidency of Serbia.

They chanted football songs and shouted insults at the policemen who secured the site and the Pride Parade participants.

More stones and bottles were pelted at police there.

In a nearby location at 10:30 CET, police officers in full riot gear stopped hundreds of mostly young people from moving forward.

The Pride Parade opponents pelted stones at the Gendarmes near Nikola Pašić Square, news agencies reported.

They came to the square and began throwing rocks at the officers, who tried to push them back from the parliament building.

Reinforcements came from the direction of the City Hall and managed to prevent further progress of the protesters. A police helicopter was seen flying over the sites of the clashes.

Some 200 protesters threw bottles, stones and bricks at the cordon placed between the presidency and parliament buildings.

The violence subsided in late afternoon.

Authorities ready to prosecute

Spokesman of the Prosecutor's Office Tomo Zorić told B92 TV that the prosecution and the police will do everything to identify all those involved in committing crimes and attacks on the police, in addition to the already arrested.

He said that all the key incidents were recorded and that the video footage of today's violence would be used as evidence in criminal proceedings that will ensue.

The Prosecutor's Office will initiate proceedings, Zorić said and pointed out that "such criminal acts are punishable by up to 8 years in prison."

When asked how the authorities intended to prosecute hundreds of rioters, Zorić said that it was their duty to do so, adding that "no one can be above the law."