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Vucic reports over 35 detentions, says two police wounded in Belgrade protests

According to the Serbian president, the protests were plotted in advance" of which the government "has solid evidence"

© Alexander Dzyuba/TASS

BELGRADE, December 25. /TASS/. More than 35 protesters have been detained in Belgrade, while two police officers who had arrived on the scene outside the administration building in the Serbian capital were seriously injured, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said.

"We have two seriously injured police officers and several others with minor or unspecified wounds," TV Pink quoted the Serbian leader as saying. Also, "over 35 protesters have been detained so far," Vucic added, saying that all of them would be brought to justice.

According to the Serbian president, the protests were plotted in advance" of which the government "has solid evidence."

On Sunday, supporters of the opposition coalition "Serbia against Violence", who started a series of rallies near the Republican Election Commission building in the center of Belgrade on the evening of December 18, tried to storm the city administration building. Tens of police and ambulances, as well as Serbian Interior Minister Bratislav Gasic arrived on the scene. The police dispersed demonstrators.

Earlier, Vucic said that protests by the opposition or its provocative statements would not achieve any result as he insisted that "a change of power occurs through elections only." The opposition demands a re-run of the recent parliamentary and local elections.

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