Protesters encircle state television building

Huge crowds of anti-government protesters yesterday encircled the Serbian state television building in downtown Belgrade to press their demand for autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic to ease his tight grip on the mainstream media and allow alternative voices. Tens of thousands of opposition supporters, some chanting slogans urging Vucic’s resignation, streamed into the raindrenched streets a day after the president’s followers staged an equally big rally in the capital. Most of his supporters were bussed into the capital from all over Serbia.