(29 Nov 1996) English/Nat
The protests that have plagued Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic have continued with a demonstration by 50-thousand people in the capital Belgrade.
The protesters chanted "Let's Go! All-out attack!" as they marched on government buildings on Friday, including Milosevic's downtown office.
The students have vowed to continue their protests until Milosevic acknowledges an opposition victory in local elections.
Opposition leader Vuk Draskovic called for Milosevic's resignation when he addressed the cheering crowd.
Tens of thousands of student again poured onto the streets of Belgrade on Friday to protest against Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic.
The protesters are becoming a thorn in the side of Milosevic.
They say they'll continue the demonstrations until Milosevic's Socialists reinstate victories by the opposition party in local elections.
Officials loyal to President Milosevic -- who invalidated elections on November 17th because of alleged irregularities -- claim the Serbian leader's Socialists won.
Demonstrators have gathered every day since the annulment, raising the tempo of the protests.
The marches have raised tensions in the Yugoslav capital, but once again police didn't try to restrain the protesters.
Leaders of the opposition movement have pledged to keep the protests peaceful, although that looks like an increasingly difficult task after 11 days of demonstrations.
Opposition leaders have openly criticised Milosevic, calling for his resignation.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"In the course of a few days, millions of citizens of Serbia have filled the streets, which must force him to resign. As far as I'm concerned, I would like to have the resignation of Milosevic. And until we have him here in Belgrade, no can be no implementation of the Dayton agreement because he started the war. Also no full cooperation with the Hague tribunal because he's also very afraid to face the Hague."
SUPERCAPTION: Vuk Draskovic, Opposition leader, Serbian Renewal Movement
The day began much the same as the past week, with some ten-thousand students gathering in the centre of Belgrade.
The support they've received from the public has been apparent, with people hanging out of windows and cheering as the marchers pass by.
By mid-afternoon, thousands more had joined the demonstration, despite the snow, freezing rain and high winds.
Earlier in the week, demonstrators went on a window-smashing rampage at a newspaper and a television station controlled by the Serbian president.
Friday is a holiday in Yugoslavia, marking the anniversary of the founding of the old Communist federation.
But the crowds continued to grow.
About ten-thousand students were joined later by about 40-thousand opposition party supporters.
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 paper had given front-page coverage to the wave of demonstrations which have jammed the streets of Belgrade daily since the authorities overturned the opposition victories.
The main opposition coalition -- Zajedno (Together) -- claims the pressure on the media is a sign that Milosevic intends to impose a dictatorship.
Two main opposition party leaders, Vuk Draskovic of the Serbian Renewal Movement and Zoran Djindic of the Serbian Democrats, have been taking part in the demonstrations.
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