Police in Serbia defend capital's city hall as election protesters try to storm building

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(24 Dec 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Belgrade, Serbia - 24 December 2023
1. Ambulance driving though crowd
2. Various of protesters in front of the city council
3. Police shield seen behind the door of the city council
4. Protesters trying to enter the city council
5. Protesters in front of the city council
6. Protesters smashing the door
7. Protesters throwing stones at city council
8. Police firing spray at protesters
9. Various of police arriving and clashing with some protesters
10. Police in front of the city council
STORYLINE:
Police in Serbia fired tear gas to prevent hundreds of opposition supporters from entering the capital’s city council building Sunday in protest of what election observers said were widespread vote irregularities during a general election last weekend. 

The country's populist authorities have denied rigging the vote and described the election to fill parliament and local offices was fair. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Sunday that those claims were blatant ”lies” promoted by the political opposition. 

Shielded riot police barricaded themselves inside the city government building, firing tear gas as hundreds of opposition protesters broke windows at the entrance.

The protesters shouted “open the door” and “thieves,” as they pelted the building with eggs. Some chanted “Vucic is Putin,” comparing the Serbian president with Russia's leader.

Results from the Dec. 17 election showed victory for Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party in both the parliamentary and Belgrade city ballots. Serbia Against Violence, the party’s main opponent, said it was robbed of a win, especially in Belgrade.

An observation mission made up of representatives of international rights watchdogs reported multiple irregularities, included cases of bought votes and the stuffing of ballot boxes.

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