Serbia leader backtracks on curfew plan
SERBIA’S president has backtracked on his plans to reinstate a lockdown in Belgrade after thousands protested over the move and violently clashed with police in the capital.
Chaos erupted as thousands of protesters fought running battles with police and tried to storm the parliament building after President Aleksandar Vucic announced on Tuesday that a weekend curfew will be reintroduced in the Balkan country as health officials reported the highest single-day death toll from Covid-19 cases.
Serbian police said 23 people were detained in the clashes that lasted for more than six hours.
Opponents blame the Serbian leader for contributing to the spike in deaths and new cases after he lifted the previous lockdown measures. They say he did that to cement his grip on power after parliamentary elections held on June 21. He has denied those claims.
Yesterday, Mr Vucic backtracked on his new lockdown plans that were to take effect during the coming weekend, claiming the measure cannot be implemented without proclaiming a nationwide state of emergency. Mr Vucic said that although he still supports the lockdown, “most probably, there will be no curfew”.
He said that the government will decide on new measures that could include shortened hours for nightclubs and penalties for those not wearing masks.