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| - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday accused "criminal hooligans" of driving the violence in protests that have erupted in Belgrade and other cities over the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. 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. "I wasn't responsible and disciplined enough. I am not afraid to say it," Brnabic said. Some 50 police officers were injured over the two nights of protests, according to the government. Scenes of police brutality were also captured on television, including an incident Tuesday in which officers used batons to beat three men sitting peacefully on a bench. Demonstrators threw flares, stones and other objects at police who responded with tear gas in running battles around the city centre. Similar protests were held in the cities of Novi Sad, Nis and Kragujevac, where the offices of Vucic's ruling SNS were vandalised. A local news agency, Beta, reported that one of its journalists had been beaten by police. The protests have not been led by any political party, with demonstrators both from the left to the far-right. But they are united in accusing Vucic of amassing autocratic rule over Serbia during his nearly eight years in power, first as prime minister and now as president. While most protesters have been peaceful, small bands of demonstrators are accused of triggering the clashes. "I believe that yesterday the protests were hijacked by organised hooligan groups", political analyst Vuk Velebit told regional broadcaster N1. The US Embassy in Belgrade condemned both "excessive force" by officers and "what appeared to us to be coordinated attacks on police intended to provoke overreactions." President Vucic has been branding the protesters as "fascists" and conspiracy theorists aided by "foreign meddling". He said the protests were an effort to "harm Serbia's image" at a time when he is preparing to relaunch talks to normalise ties with Kosovo, a former province that broke away in a 1990s war. mat-mbs/ssm/ach
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