Hundreds of protesters in Serbia clashed with the police in front of the parliament building in Belgrade on Friday, as protests rocked the country for the fourth consecutive day. Serbia faces a new wave of coronavirus infections, which the protesters blame on the government's pandemic policy.
Despite the ban on mass gatherings, thousands rallied in Belgrade and other major cities. Groups of protesters threw bottles, rocks and flares at the police guarding the parliament. The rioters also used the protective metal fence around the building as a weapon in the scuffles with the police.
Read more: Serbian protesters lash out at Vucic's botched pandemic response
The police fired tear gas at the protesters and prevented people from entering the building. Several people were arrested following the attack.
Protesters gathered outside the parliament building in Belgrade
The protests happened hours after President Aleksandar Vucic said that he was not worried about losing political power despite the unrest. Vucic also told RTV Pink, a pro-government news channel, that protesters attacking "brave" policemen would be arrested.
Some opposition leaders in Serbia alleged that Friday's attack on the parliament was orchestrated by demonstrators controlled by the government.
The most intense protests since 2000
Serbia is in the grip of the most intense protests since 2000, over the Vucic government's coronavirus measures.
The government had imposed draconian lockdown measures in the earlier stages of the outbreak, but then lifted all coronavirus restrictions as the country was nearing a parliamentary election.
In the days following the election, top medical officials and Vucic himself raised the alarm over the galloping infections and the increasing strain on the country's ineffective healthcare system.
Read more: Serbia's Vucic backs down on coronavirus curfew after Belgrade protests
On Tuesday, Vucic announced gatherings of over five people would be banned starting on Wednesday, and that a curfew would be reintroduced from Friday evening until Monday morning, but did not specify if the decision would apply to the whole country. He has since changed his mind, with the country's emergency coronavirus council declaring a ban on mass gatherings but stopping short of a curfew.
Watch video 02:19 Share Violent protests in Belgrade Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3f4hI Serbia bans mass gatherings after violent protests
Protests began on Tuesday against the government's measures, stretching into a fourth consecutive day on Friday.
Protesters briefly managed to breach the parliament building during hourslong unrest on Wednesday. Vucic has described protesters against his government as "criminal hooligans."
am/dj (AFP, AP)
Friday night was the fourth night in a row that Serbians protested; the protest started out against the government's anti-COVID-19 measures but has reportedly expanded into more general anti-government protests. Police director  said at least 71 people were arrested Friday night.

Anti-government protests have been taking place since Tuesday in the Serbian capital  after the government announced new lockdown measures, which the government dropped after the protests began.  According to reports, criticism within Serbia has said COVID-19 cases rose because President  eased lockdown measures to win elections which were held on June 21.  Public and private gatherings were allowed in May again before the election started, including sports events, religious events, and parties.

The protesters clashed in front of parliament with the police and threw rocks, bottles and flares. As they tried to storm parliament, police in response fired tear gas at them.  Director Rebic said the night's incidents injured fourteen police officers. A number of journalists were also injured after being attacked by protesters.

Some members of opposition parties have claimed violent protesters were sent by the government. President Vučić said  unspecified foreign security forces were involved in the protests.