Clashes across Serbia

NEARLY 50 protesters were detained across Serbia and dozens of people injured as violence spi- ralled after more than nine months of largely peaceful protests against the populist rule of President Alek- sandar Vucic, police said.

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The gatherings, which followed an outbreak of unrest on Tuesday night, were organised at some 90 locations on Wednesday evening, said interior minister Ivica Dacic at a press conference.

Wednesday's unrest started in the northern city of Novi Sad when supporters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) threw flares at anti-government protesters who had been marching past the party offices, according to video from the scene.

Clashes there continued throughout the evening with rival groups hurling various objects at each other amid clouds of smoke and chaos.