POLICE warned Serbia's opposition yesterday against further street demonstrations which contain "elements of violence and serious violations of the law", state media reported.
The state news agency, Tanjug, quoted a statement from Belgrade police saying they had been more tolerant than required and would now hold organisers responsible for protests which violated the law.
The warning follows two weeks of street protests in the capital and other major towns against the Serbian President, Mr Slobodan Milosevic. The wave of demonstrations was caused by the annulment of opposition victories in municipal polls on November 17th.
The demonstrations have been mainly peaceful, except for a few days in which protesters threw stones at state television and state newspapers offices, shattering windows.
The statement from city police coincided with a condemnation of the opposition from the speaker of the parliament and member of the ruling socialist party, Mr Dragan Tomic. Speaking on the state television news, Mr Tomic called the Zajedno (Together) opposition coalition a "fascist" movement.
Despite bitter cold and sleet, tens of thousands took to the streets yesterday, marching through the capital in an expression of anger towards Mr Milosevic's nine year rule.