By Aleksandar Vasovic
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Anti-government protesters barred access to the offices of state broadcasters in Serbia’s capital Belgrade and the second-largest city on Tuesday, keeping employees out and forcing some live programming off the air.
Four months the near daily protests, sparked by the deaths of 15 people when a railway station roof collapsed in November, have drawn in students, teachers, farmers and others to become the biggest threat yet to President Aleksandar Vucic’s decade-long rule.
The most recent demonstrations, which began late on Monday, led to a brief clash between the student-led protesters and police at the headquarters of Radio Televizija Srbije (RTS) in central Belgrade.
One police officer was injured in that incident, according to a statement from the interior ministry.
While the prolonged protest movement has remained largely peaceful, tensions are mounting ahead of a major rally scheduled for March 15.
The protests’ student leaders have called for peaceful demonstrations.
President Vucic, however, told RTS late on Monday that clashes were inevitable.
“Violence will not be avoided. Plans have already been made that we know about,” he said. “We know who will pelt parliament with eggs, with stones and with torches.”
Protesters, angered by the state broadcaster’s reporting, barred employees from entering RTS’s headquarters beginning late on Monday.
The blockade forced RTS to broadcast from studios outside the city centre, an RTS employee told Reuters, and a brief clash erupted when police moved to enter the building.
No arrests were made.
“Police are inside the building to secure it and will intervene if someone attempts to enter,” Interior Minister Ivica Dacic told reporters.
Dozens of protesters remained outside the building on Tuesday, according to Reuters witnesses.
Demonstrators also blockaded the offices of regional station Radio Televizija Vojvodine (RTV) in Novi Sad, around 80 kilometres (50 miles) northwest of Belgrade, forcing it to halt live broadcasting.
Many Serbians attribute November’s railway station disaster to rampant corruption, which they tie to President Vucic and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party.
In response, the government has launched an anti-corruption campaign. Former Prime Minister Milos Vucevic along with two of his ministers resigned amid the unrest.
Prosecutors have also charged 13 people over the train station collapse.
The student demonstrators, however, are demanding the release of documents related to the disaster and accountability for those responsible.
(Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Joe Bavier)
