Serbian ruling party's office set on fire amid intensifying wave of protests

The offices of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) have been set on fire during a fifth night of unrest in a row that saw fresh clashes between anti-government protesters and riot police.

Police in the city of Valjevo reportedly used stun grenades and tear gas on protesters after a small group of masked individuals attacked the empty facilities of the SNS, Caliber.Az reports, citing Serbian outlets.

Similar clashes occurred simultaneously in the capital Belgrade, where police deployed tear gas against protesters who had set garbage containers on fire.

Interior Minister Ivica Dačić stated that in Valjevo at least one police officer was injured and 18 protesters were detained.

The situation remains tense, clashes are ongoing, and the events are causing concern among the population and international observers.

According to the BBC, the wave of protests was initially triggered by a railway station collapse in Novi Sad in November last year that killed 16 people, with many blaming President Aleksandar Vučić's government for the disaster.

While demonstrations have drawn in hundreds of thousands of protestors, they had been largely peaceful until this week's clash, when pro-government loyalists staged counter-demonstrations. Offices and flags representing Vučić's SNS party had been a focus of the protesters' anger.

Riot police were again deployed this weekend in a number of cities including Belgrade as people took part in demonstrations to demand early elections.

By Nazrin Sadigova