Opposition leader ends thirst strike

Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leader Tomislav Nikolic has ended thirst strike at Patriarch Irinej’s request, doctors have announced. However, Nikolic still refuses food and intravenous nutrition, said member of a medical team responsible for monitoring the opposition leader’s condition Dr Ljubomir Ilic. Opposition leader ends thirst strike Priest Radic Radicevic, who gave communion to Nikolic this morning, gave him a message from the patriarch, urging him to end the strike. When asked whether taking communion meant that the SNS leader had ended the strike, the priest said that Nikolic was the faithful and that he could not say whether it meant that he had ended the strike. “I cannot tell you that, that’s body and blood of Christ. It’s different from eating,” Radicevic pointed out. He also said that he did not know what Nikolic would do, adding that he had only given him a message from the patriarch “to stop fighting for his rights that way”. The doctors said earlier that Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leader Tomislav Nikolic’s condition had deteriorated. The Progressives have been accusing Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), B92 and daily Blic of leading a campaign against their leader. Nikolic has been on hunger strike since Saturday, requesting the government to call early parliamentary elections. Member of a medical team which is monitoring the SNS leader's condition Dr Ljubomir Ilic told reporters this morning that Nikolic's condition was very alarming due to the thirst strike that had entered the sixth day. When asked what was the opposition leader's condition today compared to Wednesday, he explained that it could only be worse as long as the patient continued his thirst strike. “It's been six days, we are making incredible effort to compensate for the electrolytes and fluids intravenously, but Nikolic keeps refusing to take basic medicines orally,“ Ilic stressed this morning. According to the doctors, the SNS leader has already lost five kilograms and he is very exhausted, but he still conscious and able to communicate. Tomislav Nikolic and his wife Dragica (Beta) Opposition stages protest in front of RTS SNS supporters held a gathering in front of the Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) in downtown Belgrade Wednesday night, protesting the broadcaster's "unobjective" reporting on Nikolic's hunger strike. SNS deputy leader Aleksandar Vucic called on Nikolic, who has been hospitalized since Sunday, to end the hunger and thirst strike, because Serbia and the party needed him. Vucic announced that if Nikolic did not leave the hospital by Easter, the party "will call all of Serbia to Belgrade." New Serbia (NS) leader Velimir Ilic, Socialist Movement leader Aleksandar Vulin and SNS officials addressed the rally, which finished without incidents.

Opposition leader ends thirst strike

Priest Radič Radičević, who gave communion to Nikolić this morning, gave him a message from the patriarch, urging him to end the strike.

When asked whether taking communion meant that the SNS leader had ended the strike, the priest said that Nikolić was the faithful and that he could not say whether it meant that he had ended the strike.

“I cannot tell you that, that’s body and blood of Christ. It’s different from eating,” Radičević pointed out.

He also said that he did not know what Nikolić would do, adding that he had only given him a message from the patriarch “to stop fighting for his rights that way”.

The doctors said earlier that Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leader Tomislav Nikolić’s condition had deteriorated.

The Progressives have been accusing Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), B92 and daily Blic of leading a campaign against their leader.

Nikolić has been on hunger strike since Saturday, requesting the government to call early parliamentary elections.

Member of a medical team which is monitoring the SNS leader's condition Dr Ljubomir Ilić told reporters this morning that Nikolić's condition was very alarming due to the thirst strike that had entered the sixth day.

When asked what was the opposition leader's condition today compared to Wednesday, he explained that it could only be worse as long as the patient continued his thirst strike.

“It's been six days, we are making incredible effort to compensate for the electrolytes and fluids intravenously, but Nikolić keeps refusing to take basic medicines orally,“ Ilić stressed this morning.

According to the doctors, the SNS leader has already lost five kilograms and he is very exhausted, but he still conscious and able to communicate.

Opposition stages protest in front of RTS

SNS supporters held a gathering in front of the Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) in downtown Belgrade Wednesday night, protesting the broadcaster's "unobjective" reporting on Nikolić's hunger strike.

SNS deputy leader Aleksandar Vučić called on Nikolić, who has been hospitalized since Sunday, to end the hunger and thirst strike, because Serbia and the party needed him.

Vučić announced that if Nikolic did not leave the hospital by Easter, the party "will call all of Serbia to Belgrade."

New Serbia (NS) leader Velimir Ilić, Socialist Movement leader Aleksandar Vulin and SNS officials addressed the rally, which finished without incidents.