(6 Jan 1997) English/Nat
Thousands of protestors gathered in the centre of Belgrade on Monday evening, in the latest demonstration against Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic.
The rally - marking Christmas Eve in the calendar of the Orthodox Church - was boosted by large numbers of people preparing to celebrate Midnight mass.
Earlier in the day, students opposed to the President had won a measure of support from the Army - after senior commanders promised not to interfere in the latest protest.
Thousands of opposition party supporters began pouring into Belgrade's Republic Square for a Christmas Eve rally from early in the evening.
The square began filling up at around 1700 G-M-T and the sound of horns, whistles and drums could be heard right across the centre of the Serbian capital.
Senior figures in the Opposition - including Renewal Party leader Vuk Draskovic - presented Christmas Presents to children in the crowds.
At the beginning of the gathering, police were not visible.
Despite a previous police ban on their protest marches, the political rally was expecting a boost from crowds preparing to march to the main Orthodox church for midnight mass.
The Christmas Eve celebrations are the latest move by students and opposition supporters, in their seven-week protest against the government's annulment of local elections.
Serbian Renewal Party leader Vuk Draskovic and Democratic Party spokesman Slobodan Vuksanovic were confident that the whole of Belgrade would be brought to a standstill.
They hoped for a different Christmas celebration next year.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"As a Christian I would like to send the best wishes to Slobodan Milosevic too, but I would like to wish him to approach the wisdom and the responsibility but I'm afraid that is the same as wishing that the night becomes day."
SUPER CAPTION: Vuk Draskovic, Renewal Party leader
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Unfortunately this Christmas they will spend with our people in the streets because of dictatorship in Serbia but I hope and I am sure that next Christmas will be at our homes in Democratic and free Serbia."
SUPER CAPTION: Slobodan Vuksanovic, Democratic Party spokesman
Earlier on Monday, the students tried to step up the pressure on the President by meeting the head of the Army, General Momcilo Perisic.
A five-man delegation asked the General not to intervene in the long-running protests.
President Milosevic sent tanks onto the streets of Belgrade in March 1991 against protesters -- and the students feared the same could happen again.
The group left the meeting, saying they had been given firm assurances that the army wouldn't move in against them.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We are very satisfied with the talks with general Perisic and we have reasons to believe that the Army will not use any kind of force which is very important in this moment."
SUPER CAPTION: Dusan Vasiljevic, student leader and member of delegation
But Monday was mainly a religious day.
One of the largest services marking Christmas Eve was conducted by the leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Pavle, with several hundred people gathering in the city's cathedral.
At midnight, Patriarch Pavle will burn oak branches in St. Sava Cathedral, a traditional Serb Christmas custom, and conduct a midnight mass.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
