Blockades, protests staged in Belgrade and other Serbian cities, no general strike

BELGRADE - Secondary school and university students and groups of people blocked intersections in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Nis and other Serbian cities for 15 minutes on Friday in what they said was a tribute to the victims of the November 1 tragedy in Novi Sad.

The opposition HOPE coalition blocked the E-75 motorway near Vrcin in suburban Belgrade.

Protesters blocked several intersections in central Novi Sad.

Earlier, opposition activists from the city blocked the Belgrade-Novi Sad motorway.

Protests were also held in Kraljevo, Sabac, Smederevo, Jagodina, Zajecar and Uzice.

Students who are blocking university buildings and some opposition parties announced earlier they would stage protests and blockades in many cities on Friday.

Calling to a general strike, they urged businesses, entrepreneurs, merchants, hospitality establishments and cultural institutions to join them in support of demands set forth by students.

However, in Belgrade and other cities, everything is mostly functioning as usual - shops, pharmacies and banks are open and urban transportation is operational.

Traffic is blocked on locations of protest rallies and in streets where protest walks are underway.