26 years later: March 9, the day when tanks ruled the capital and ran over protesters (PHOTO)

26 years have passes since the first opposition protests lead by Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) and its leader Vuk Draskovic, due to the warmongering policy of the former national Television in Belgrade on 9 March 1991. Also, this was a collection of about 100,000 disenfranchised citizens of Serbia who have opposed the rule of Slobodan Milosevic. 

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On this special day we remember the victims who lost their lives on that occasion, the student Branivoj Milinovic and policeman Nedeljko Kosovic. It should also be noted that several hundred people were injured.

The protest was led by the President of the Serbian Renewal Movement Vuk Draskovic, with a request that the then director of the state television Dusan Mitevic and editor Slavko Budihna, Predrag Vitas, Ivan Krivec and Sergej Sestakov resign.

Comment on TV Belgrade where Slavko Budihna accused SPO to be extended arm of "Ustasha" Croatian regime was the direct reason for the gathering of 100,000 people.

After clashes in downtown Belgrade, the Presidency of the SFRY decided to send tanks into the streets of Belgrade.

Printskrin: Youtube/inthewest serbia

Draskovic and the then vice-president of the Serbian Renewal Movement Jovan Marjanovic were arrested. 

The following day, thousands of students have gathered in the evening on Terazije plateau, in the center of Belgrade, who, in addition to resignations of leaders of Belgrade TV, asked for the resignation of Police Minister Radmilo Bogdanovic and release of the arrested opposition leaders, among whom was Draskovic.

Printskrin: Youtube/inthewest serbia

The Serbian Parliament has adopted the resignation of the leaders of TV Belgrade shortly after the demonstration, as well as the resignation of Radmilo Bogdanovic.

SPO is now in coalition with the Serbian Progressive Party, led by Aleksandar Vucic, and together with the SPS and other coalition partners Vucic supports the candidacy for president of Serbia.

(Telegraf.co.uk)