Chaotic, Serbian MPs Throw Smoke And Eye Gas Grenades

JAKARTA - Serbian opposition lawmakers threw smoke grenades and tear gas into the parliament building to protest against the government and support student demonstrations.

Demonstrations pioneered by students for four months have attracted the attention of teachers, farmers and others, thus becoming the biggest threat to President Aleksandar Vucic's administration, where many Serbians have criticized corruption and inability in government.

Reurters reported on Tuesday, March 4, some opposition politicians approached the chairman of parliament and clashed with security officers.

Others threw smoke grenades and tear gas. Live television broadcasts black smoke and pink inside the parliament building.

Serbian Parliament Speaker AnaBRacic said two MPs were injured, one of which, Jasmina Obradovic of the SNS party, suffered a stroke and was in critical condition.

"The parliament will continue to work and defend Serbia," he said at the hearing.

Opposition deputies also held posters that read "public attacks" and "fair to those killed", while outside the building protesters stood still in honor of 15 people who died as a result of the collapse of the roof of the train station which triggered the protest movement.

Protesters called for massive protests in the capital Belgrade on March 15.

The ruling coalition said Western intelligence agencies were trying to destabilize Serbia and overthrow the government by supporting the protests.

Parliament on Tuesday is scheduled to adopt a law that raises funding for the university one of the student's main demands to block the faculty since December.

Parliament is also scheduled to observe the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic. However, another agenda included in the ruling coalition agenda angered the opposition.