Belgrade, 27 November 1996 (RFE/RL) - For the ninth day in a row, tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through the Serbian capital Belgrade today as voters largely supported the opposition's call to boycott re-run municipal elections.
The demonstrators, supporters of the Zajedno (Together) opposition coalition, protested authorities' decision to annul municipal election results in which President Slobodan Milosevic's ruling party did not win a majority.
Zajedno leaders today called on voters to boycott today's re-running of the elections. The Zajedno coalition claimed victories in 44 municipalities in local elections 10 days ago. Yesterday, Serbia's supreme court sided with Milosevic's party and upheld the nullification of results in Belgrade.
Zajedno leader Zoran Djindjic said today the ongoing protests showed that ordinary people were fed up with authoritarian rule and were eager for democratic reforms. Police stopped 15,000 students from marching down an avenue leading to Milosevic's home. Meanwhile, Radio B92, Belgrade's only independent station, went off the air this afternoon. It is not clear what happened. Station reporters said they suspected government interference.
The demonstrators, supporters of the Zajedno (Together) opposition coalition, protested authorities' decision to annul municipal election results in which President Slobodan Milosevic's ruling party did not win a majority.
Zajedno leaders today called on voters to boycott today's re-running of the elections. The Zajedno coalition claimed victories in 44 municipalities in local elections 10 days ago. Yesterday, Serbia's supreme court sided with Milosevic's party and upheld the nullification of results in Belgrade.
Zajedno leader Zoran Djindjic said today the ongoing protests showed that ordinary people were fed up with authoritarian rule and were eager for democratic reforms. Police stopped 15,000 students from marching down an avenue leading to Milosevic's home. Meanwhile, Radio B92, Belgrade's only independent station, went off the air this afternoon. It is not clear what happened. Station reporters said they suspected government interference.