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Serbian opposition supporters announce 24-hour protest in Belgrade

The action will be followed by a mass protest in the center of Belgrade

BELGRADE, December 27. /TASS/. The student organization Borba (the Fight), which supports the Serbia Against Violence opposition bloc, announced a 24-hour protest rally in Belgrade, during which the main highways of the city will be blocked, the N1 TV channel reported.

Activist Jovan Bijelic said that on December 29, starting at 12:00 p.m. (11:00 a.m. GMT), opposition representatives will block a number of highways for 24 hours. The action will be followed by a mass protest in the center of Belgrade.

Earlier, the Serbian Prosecutor's Office reported that seven supporters of the Serbia Against Violence opposition bloc, arrested for participation in the failed attempt to seize the Belgrade Town Hall building, pleaded guilty. They will receive suspended sentences for violence at a public event and attempting to change the constitutional order. Two other detainees were released from custody and will await trial at large. Eleven other opposition supporters will remain in custody pending trial, as the prosecutor's office fears repeated violations of the law on their part.

The day before, a rally of opposition supporters took place in front of the Serbian Justice Ministry, demanding the immediate release of all detainees.

Members of the Serbia Against Violence opposition bloc, who began rallying regularly in front of the Republican Election Commission building in Belgrade on December 18, tried to storm the city hall building on December 24 but were dispersed by police. The demonstrators used flag poles to tear down the door and break the windows, throwing stones and beer cans and destroying surveillance cameras. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic warned that opposition protests would lead to nothing as "elections are the only way to change the government" in the Balkan country. Still, opponents of the country’s leadership continue to challenge the victory of the ruling party-led coalition in Belgrade’s city council election.

The country’s election commission decided to hold new elections in 28 polling stations on December 30. The Serbia Against Violence bloc said it refused to participate. The opposition also said it planned to hold a large protest in Belgrade on the day of the re-election.

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