Serbian Prime Minister, Milos Vucevic, on Tuesday resigned, becoming the highest-ranking official to step down following a wave of anti-corruption protests that have spread across the country.
Media Talk Africa gathered that the anti-government demonstrations sprang up in the wake of the roof collapsing at a railway station in the city of Novi Sad, killing 15 people and leading to calls for Vucevic to quit.
It was further learnt that what started as small gatherings in Novi Sad have ballooned and spread to the capital, Belgrade, as students, teachers and other workers turned out in their numbers to blame the station disaster on corruption within the government of President Aleksandar Vucic.
The minister for construction, transportation and infrastructure, and the trade minister have already stepped down because of the incident, but that failed to quell the protests.
Holding a news conference on Tuesday, Vucevic announced his resignation, adding that the mayor of Novi Sad would also resign.
“I opted for this step in order to defuse tensions. With this we have met all demands of the most radical protesters,” he said.
Media Talk Africa reports that the protests, which included students putting up a blockade at a main junction in Belgrade this week, have been largely peaceful.
However, three protesters in Novi Sad were attacked on Monday and blamed members of Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party, SNS.
A young woman reportedly sustained head injuries and was hospitalized.
Vucevic said an investigation is underway, blaming foreign interference for stoking the protests, without providing evidence.
