 |  |  |
| Return to: Left History: a digital archive | Return to: Say no to imperialist wars! | Return to: NATO-Yugoslav War Internet Resources |
| | |
| Return to: Left History: a digital archive | Return to: Say no to imperialist wars! | Return to: NATO-Yugoslav War Internet Resources |
BELGRADE, Oct 9 (Reuters) - A protest rally in central Belgrade organised by the Serbian opposition umbrella group Alliance for Change turned into mayhem on Saturday as Yugoslavia qualified for the European soccer championship finals.
Alliance leaders, who had set up a giant video screen in the city's central square for a qualifying match between Yugoslavia and bitter rivals Croatia, were forced to leave the stage in a hurry after an overjoyed crowd threw beer cans at them.
Some 30,000 people turned up to watch the game in public and ran riot after Yugoslavia qualified for the European Championship finals and eliminated Croatia on the basis of a 2-2 draw in Zagreb.
The crowd lit fireworks and crammed the city centre with vehicles and on foot while the opposition leaders headed a symbolic protest walk, as part of the 19th consecutive rally against Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's regime.
The occasion attracted more people than any of the recent opposition rallies but police were few and far between as jubilant fans chanted the names of their soccer idols in a circular walk around the city centre.
The Alliance leaders tried to address the crowd with non-political messages of congratulations to the Yugoslav team after returning to the Republic square, but were rushed off the stage by security after dodging an avalanche of beer cans.
"It was a fine celebration, but some of the lads were intoxicated even before we got back to the square. Rare celebrations turn into riots because we have so little to cheer about," said Zoran Djindjic, one of the Alliance leaders.
Traffic came to a standstill as rampant fans demolished a trolley bus in the city centre and littered the square with broken beer bottles.
"We had no intention of turning this into a political gathering. This is an evening of victory, and I hope most of these young people will be back here tomorrow," said Vladan Batic, the Alliance coordinator.