Serbia protests: Anti-government demonstrators try to storm Belgrade City Hall

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Demonstrators were met by riot police outside Belgrade City Hall on Sunday

Protesters in Serbia have tried to break into Belgrade City Hall in an escalation of demonstrations against last week’s elections.

The opposition is demanding a re-run of the vote, which saw the ruling party win a majority in parliament.

Domestic and international observers have reported “irregularities”. There have been claims of ballot box stuffing and vote buying.

President Aleksandar Vucic dismissed the allegations as “rubbish and lies”.

The election for Belgrade City Council attracted particular criticism, with reports of non-residents being bussed in.

Supporters of Serbia Against Violence (SPN), an opposition coalition, attempted to break into the capital’s city hall on Sunday.

Srdjan Milivojevic and Vladimir Obradovic, two SPN leaders, tried to open the door to the building. Police used pepper spray to repel the protesters.

Sofija Mandic, a lawyer, told those assembled that Mr Vucic should “hand over power peacefully”. The government was “usurping” power, she added.

In an emergency address to the nation on Sunday evening, Mr Vucic blamed the unrest on foreign interference.

“Those who swore to fight against violence just confirmed once again that they are the real thugs,” Mr Vucic said.

Last week’s vote saw Mr Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) returned to power with a majority in parliament.

SPN had hoped to deny the SNS a majority and win control of Belgrade. But official results – immediately denounced as fraudulent by opposition figures – showed SPN had failed to achieve either goal.

In response, the opposition has mounted daily protests. Seven opposition figures have gone on hunger strike.

“Vucic stole thousands of votes,” Marinika Tepic, one of the hunger strikers, said at Sunday’s protest.

The electoral commission announced on Wednesday that the election would be rerun in some 30 polling stations, out of 8,000 nationwide.

Germany said allegations of electoral misconduct were “unacceptable” for a country hoping to join the EU. President Vucic denies vote-rigging.

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