Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic previously warned that violent unrest would not be tolerated

Scuffles between protesters and police have been reported at a large anti-government demonstration on Saturday in Belgrade, Serbia.  

The new round of protests comes as the Serbian government refused to heed an ultimatum previously issued by protesters demanding the dissolution of the parliament and new elections. A deadline of 9pm on Saturday evening had been set for the government to take action.  

Footage from the scene shows rowdy protesters, many of whom have their faces covered, pelting law enforcement with various projectiles, including stones and flares.

The police have deployed armored vehicles to the streets of Belgrade and were seen charging the violent crowd.  

Riot police armed with shields and batons were seen pushing the protesters away from the government quarter, securing the area around the parliament building.

Earlier in the day, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic vowed to “defend the country” against the unrest, reiterating the government’s position that the protests have been instigated by “foreign powers.” The president warned the protesters against violence, stating that would be a life-changing mistake on their part.

The latest demonstration follows months of recurring, student-led unrest, sparked by the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station in Novy Sad last November. The protesters have demanded criminal and political accountability over the incident, which left 16 people dead.