Journal De Bruxelles - Tens of thousands rally in Serbia's capital for anti-graft rally

As a sea of people flooded the streets of downtown Belgrade, the rally was likely set to be the single largest protest since the anti-graft movement first coalesced.

The movement formed after 15 people were killed when a railway station roof collapsed in the city of Novi Sad in November.

The railway station disaster ignited long-simmering bitterness over alleged corruption and lax oversight in construction projects.

But with supporters of President Aleksandar Vucic's embattled government also mobilising in the capital as well, there was growing concern about the risk of clashes.

In statements issued on social media, students urged those attending the rally to act "in a calm and responsible manner".

"The purpose of this movement is not an incursion into institutions, nor to attack those who do not think as we do," read one statement.

"This movement must not be misused."

The rally was due to officially start at 4:00 pm (1500 GMT) and run to 9:00 pm, but thousands had already amassed hours in advance.

The European Union and the United Nations on Friday appealed to the government ahead of the demonstration to respect the right to demonstrate.

For weeks, the student-led protesters have criss-crossed the country, holding rallies in Serbia's major cities.

They have also taken their anti-corruption crusade to the rural villages and towns that have long been the backbone of support for Vucic's government.

Their return to Belgrade on Saturday will likely further ramp up already compounding pressure on the government, with several high ranking officials, including the prime minister, having resigned in recent months.

Ahead of the main afternoon protest, thousands stood for 15 minutes of silence beginning at 11:52 am to honour the victims of the Novi Sad tragedy, with the time marking the moment of the roof's collapse.

Farmers, students, bikers and other civilians mingled along the main thoroughfares in downtown Belgrade, as a parade of tractors headed toward the parliament.

"We came for justice. I hope that after this protest, things will change," Milica Stojanovic, a student at the Faculty of Biology in Belgrade, told AFP.

- 'I will not be pressured' -

But supporters of the government were also mobilising in the capital, including ultranationalists, militia members, and alleged football hooligans who have set up barricades near the parliament.

That has led to fears of a confrontation with the student-led demonstrators planning to march by the parliament later Saturday.

Riot police had also fanned out near the encampment, which is surrounded with barricades and farming tractors.

On Friday evening, Vucic took to the airways with a defiant message as demonstrators began to trickle into the city, vowing to not back down in the face of mass protests.

"Just to be clear, I will not be pressured," said Vucic during a national televised address.

"I'm the president of Serbia and I won't let the streets set the rules in this country."

He went on to call on all sides to refrain from using violence and instructed police to not use excessive force.

On Friday night, thousands lined Belgrade's streets to welcome student protesters arriving in the capital after they marched for days from cities across Serbia.

The interior ministry put the number of those who had amassed in the capital late Friday at around 31,000.

"There definitely won't be any violence here because we all came with the same purpose -- to wait for the people who marched, the people who are liberating Serbia," said Tijana Djuric -- a 20-year-old student at the Faculty of Economics in Belgrade.

- 'Regime escalating tensions' -

Some analysts however warned that the situation could escalate.

"We can already see for a few days that the regime is trying to escalate tensions," said political analyst Srdjan Cvijic.

"It is creating a Potemkin village of support in front of the presidency with pro-government demonstrators who are paid."

Pressure has been mounting in the days leading up to Saturday's rally.

Government-backed media have broadcast increasingly inflammatory accusations, saying the students are planning to launch a "coup".

Earlier, Vucic himself accused the demonstrators of organising "large-scale violence".

Vucic has warned of a "final" showdown on Saturday while some student protesters said they would continue to rally until their demands for greater accountability were met.

P.Claes--JdB