More than 20.000 Belgrade University students protested on Feb. 4, in front of the Belgrade city police headquarters, demanding the release of six students arrested during the protest rally held the night before. Students were joined by around 1.500 Belgrade lawyers who are also on strike. Students' and lawyers' representatives had talks with the Belgrade police assistant chief, Colonel Sreten Lukic. After the talks, members of the students' delegation told reporters that the police representatives had no answers to their questions and said they had no knowledge of the police intrusion at the School of Philosophy. The police requested "reliable evidence" that the police had indeed entered the college, and said that the whole matter should be re-investigated, said the students' delegation members, who confirmed they had video recordings of the police action. The students claim that another 43 persons were arrested during the rally and requested their names from the police officials. They were given only a list with the names of ten people against whom misdemeanor charges have been brought.

Copyright © 1997 by Beta News Agency.