SERBIA: BELGRADE: ANTI GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE

Описание: (28 Nov 1996) English/Nat

Thousands of students and other opposition supporters were out in the streets of Belgrade again Thursday as Serbia's capital witnessed the tenth day of the largest anti-government protest in years.

Many of the universities were closed and the classes boycotted by students and teachers, who joined their pupils in the protest.

The demonstrators are objecting to the annulment of recent municipal elections by officials loyal to Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic.

Thursdays protests came as Serbia's leaders proclaimed victory in the second round of voting.

Around 30-thousand students took to the streets on Thursday, a day after the re-run elections.

Officials loyal to President Milosevic -- who invalidated elections on November 17th because of alleged irregularities -- claimed that this time the Serbian leader's Socialists won.

Demonstrators gather every day and walk through the city protesting the annulment of the municipal elections by Serbia's courts, controlled by Milosevic.

Many of the universities were closed and classes boycotted by students and teachers, who joined their pupils in the street protest.

The demonstrators marched through the streets chanting "Red Bandits" and "we won't give up victory".

Milosevic's regime has reportedly been cracking down on media coverage of the protests.

An independent radio station went off air every time it crossed to the scene and the largest-selling independent daily newspaper -- Blic -- has come under pressure to stop reporting on the action.

The main opposition coalition -- Zajedno (Together) -- said the pressure on the media was a sign that Milosevic intended to impose a dictatorship.

Protest leader Vuk Draskovic said the crowds were trying keep their freedom.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Because we're trying to liberate Belgrade street by street."
SUPER CAPTION: Vuk Draskovic, opposition leader

Far fewer people were thought to have voted than were on the street protesting.

On Wednesday about 100-thousand people turned out in opposition with some demonstrators hurling rocks and stones.

This time the police were keeping a close watch on events as Thursday's victory announcement seemed certain to fuel the protestors' anger.

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