Watching on television the hundreds of thousands demonstrating in front of the parliament building I couldn't help but thinking at the many demonstrations I covered in Belgrade.
First the large student demonstrations of the late 1990's challenging municipal election results that former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic was trying to rig. Clashes between riot police and students often broke out, and many suffered injuries as a result.
Then there were the large anti-West demonstrations when NATO began its bombing campaign in March 1999 to push Serb forces out of Kosovo. This time many Serbs -- some perhaps reluctantly -- rallied behind Milosevic who stood up to what was perceived in Serbia as an aggression against the nation. 
Read full article »