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Thousands of people protested Thursday for a third day across Serbia against the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic after two nights of violence.
Unlike the two previous days, Thursday's protests largely passed off peacefully.
Protesters sat on the street in front of the parliament in the capital Belgrade. They also turned out in other major Serbian towns, including Novi Sad in the north and Nis in the south.
They carried banners reading "Sit down!" and Aleksandar "Vucic is more dangerous than COVID!" in a reference to the powerful President of Serbia.
In Belgrade a small group of far right extremists have tried several times to provoke incidents with the police, but they were chased away by other protesters, according to a local television channel.
Earlier Thursday Vucic accused "criminal hooligans" of driving the violence in previous protests.
Clouds of tear gas and smoke filled central Belgrade on Wednesday evening for a second night after a peaceful gathering descended into confrontations between protesters and police.
The first demonstration was triggered on Tuesday after Vucic announced the return of a weekend curfew to combat a second wave of coronavirus infections that has overwhelmed hospitals in Belgrade.
The president later backtracked on the plan but the protests continued, turning into a general rebuke of his handling of the crisis.
"I have promised you that we will be able to protect peace and stability, despite the violent attacks by criminal hooligans which shock us all," Vucic said as he travelled to Paris for diplomatic meetings, according to state broadcaster RTS.
On Thursday the government formally dropped the curfew plan and announced restrictions on public gatherings of more than 10 people -- effectively barring protests -- as well as shorter hours for bars, shops and other businesses in Belgrade.
Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said the decision had nothing to do with the protests, adding that people were more likely to obey softer measures.
Critics accuse the government of hastily lifting almost all virus restrictions ahead of a national election in late June.
The poll, which was boycotted by much of the opposition, cemented the domination of Vucic's ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
Since then infection rates have spiked, while several top SNS officials tested positive after a rowdy victory party.
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